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Source:
A Centennial
Biographical History
of
Crawford
County, Ohio
- ILLUSTRATED -
"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote
ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride
by remote generations."
- MACAULAY
Publ. Chicago:
The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
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ABRAHAM LAIBBLY.
Throughout his entire business career Mr. Laibbly
has carried on agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of a
valuable and attractive farm of one hundred acres in Chatfield
township, Crawford county. He was born in Mahoning county, Ohio,
October 6, 1836, his parents being John and
Susanna Laibbly, who had eleven children, six of whom
are yet living. Upon the family homestead in the county of his
nativity the subject of this review spent the days of his
boyhood and youth, early becoming familiar with all the duties
and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On
attaining his majority he began farming on the shares, and has
always engaged in the tilling of the soil, his industry and
careful management making his work a profitable source of
income.
In the year 1857 Mr. Laibbly was married
to Miss Catherine Mock, and unto them were
born two children: Emery W., who is now a resident farmer
of Chatfield township: and Matilda, who died at the age
of two years. After the death of his first wife Mr.
Laibbly was again married, his second union being celebrated
on the 17th of January, 1899, when Amy Seiple
became his wife.
It was in the year 1860 that Mr. Laibbly removed
to Crawford county, taking up his abode upon the farm which has
since been his home. He at first purchased eighty acres of land,
but has since added to the property, until he now owns one
hundred acres. Only twenty acres had been cleared when he took
possession, all of the remainder being covered with a heavy
growth of timber. He has since cleared forty acres alone, and of
the entire amount eighty-three acres has been made ready for the
plow and is now under a high state of cultivation, the fields
yielding a golden tribute to the owner, while fine improvements
indicate his progressive spirit. His first home here was a log
cabin, in which he resided for eighteen years, when he replaced
it by his present fine commodious residence. Good barns and
outbuildings also furnish shelter for grain and stock, and the
accessories and conveniences of a model farm are here in
evidence, standing as monuments to the enterprise and labor of
the owner.
Mr. Laibbly gives his political support
to the Democracy, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth
and ability, have frequently called him to public office,
continuing him in the position of township trustee for nine
years. He is a member of the parish church, and is a citizen of
worth,. widely and favorably known throughout his adopted
county.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 855 |
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E. LAMBERT.
It is always a pleasure to the writer and it should edify the
reader to peruse and consider any adequate sketch of the career
of a man who has made his way to worldly success without, the
aid of influential friends and in spite of many discouragements,
a man who, with the single idea of achieving victory, pushes
obstacles from his path and, making himself superior to
circumstances, presses forward to the goal which he seeks. Such
a man is the subject of this sketch, who, though a farmer in a
rural community, more fittingly represents the possibilities of
legitimate American enterprise than a Gould or a
Morgan.
Mr. Lambert comes of that sturdy old
Pennsylvania stock which has given strength and activity to
enterprise and impetus to education and enlightenment in all
parts of our great west, and was born in Northampton county, in
the Keystone state, February 2, 1819. He was reared on a farm
and. became early familiar with hard work and only the most
meager educational advantages were available to him. At the age
of nineteen he began to work at the blacksmith's trade. In 1843
he removed from Pennsylvania to Summerville. New Jersey, and
worked there as a blacksmith for seven years. From Summerville
he went to Ohio, and locating in Lykens township, Crawford
comity, opened a blacksmith shop there, which he conducted
successfully for four years, when he traded it for another shop
at Benton, in the same county, where he carried on blacksmithing
until 1864.
In the year last mentioned Mr. Lambert
retired from blacksmithing and bought the eighty-acre farm in
Todd township, Crawford county, Ohio, on which he has since
lived and the acreage of which he has since increased until it
embraces one hundred and seventy-eight acres. The writer wishes
to impress upon the mind of the reader the fact that Mr.
Lambert has acquired this fine property by his own
unaided efforts, by many years of hard toil, during which he has
dealt with all with whom he has come in contact with the most
scrupulous honesty. These facts are known to all who know Mr.
Lambert and they should go far to discourage a belief
which has taken root in the minds of many young persons that the
easy way and the trickey way is the only sure way to financial
success. Such a man exerts upon the community at large an
influence more potent for good than that of a dozen
millionaires, who have made their money by grinding the faces of
the poor and are flaunting it brazenly before an outraged world.
Mr. Lambert is a Democrat
in politics and has held the office of supervisor of his
township, which he filled most ably and to the entire
satisfaction of all concerned, but he has been without political
aspirations and has believed and acted religiously upon the
belief that one man who does his duty thoroughly as it comes to
his hands from day to day, is more useful than any ten men who
go about advising others what they should do, especially men who
are actuated by the professional politician's hope of profiting
by the labor of others. Mr. Lambert is now
eighty-two years old and he attributes his healthy longevity to
an active and regular life and to the fact that he has never
used tobacco or liquor in any form.
Mr. Lambert was married
in 1845, to Miss Margaret Kunnsman, who has
borne him six children, Mary, Adam, Samuel,
Emma, David and Sarah, of whom all except
David and Sarah are living.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 821 |
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W. C. LEMERT |
WILSON C. LEMERT Source: A Centennial Biographical History
of Crawford County, Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 566 |
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ADAM LEONHART.
For almost a third of a century Adam Leonhart has resided
upon the valuable and attractive farm in Chatfield township
which is now his home and where he owns and operates two hundred
and thirty-four acres of land. He was born on the old
Leonhart homestead in the same township, Sept. 15, 1846, and
there remained until twenty-one years of age, his childhood and
youth being passed in the usual manner of farmer lads of the
period. The duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the
playground and the labors of the fields on the home farm
occupied his attention. Thus the years went by until he
had attained his majority, when he sought as a companion for the
journey of life Miss Mary Crabach, and their marriage was
celebrated on the 8th of March, 1868. Mr. Leonhart
then began farming as a renter, first renting a portion of his
father's farm, later other lands, and for several years farmed
rented lands. He owns two hundred and thirty-four acres of
land, all in one body, including a tract of valuable timber
land. It has been divided into fields of convenient size
for cultivation, and almost always he raises good crops, which
sell at high market prices, thus bringing him a merited reward
for his labor.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonhart has been
blessed with six children, as follows: Elizabeth,
the wife of William Kline, of Cranberry township,
Crawford county; Ira A., who is living in New Washington;
Emma; Oliver H., a veterinary surgeon; and Nora and
Walter, at home. They have also lost one child,
Clara B., who died at the age of seven years. The
family attend the German Evangelical Lutheran church, of which
Mr. Leonhart is a consistent member. He exercises
his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the
Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for the honors
and emoluments of public office, preferring to give his
attention to his farming operations, whereby he has gained a
place among the men of affluence in his community.
Mention of his paternal history is made in the
biography of John Leonhart, his eldest brother.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 626 |
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JOHN LEONHART
FAMILY |
JOHN LEONHART
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 446 |
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HENRY R. LINN.
As one of the largest land-owners and most substantial citizens
of Crawford county, Henry R. Linn occupies a prominent
position, although there are many who can recall the day when
his only capital was an abundance of energy, an industrious and
willing nature and an honesty, which his worthy parents had
taught him while still a child.
Mr. Linn was born in Holmes township, in
Crawford county, on April 12, 1840, and was a son of Philip
and Christina (Holcher) Linn. They were born in
Wurtemberg, Germany, and were married in their native land, and
there their oldest son, John, was born. John
Linn is now a prosperous farmer of Chatfield township.
In 1833, when John was but three years old. Mr.
and Mrs. Linn came to America and settled on a farm in
Holmes township, where the rest of the children were born, these
being: William, who died in 1862; Mary, who
married Andrew Green, of Liberty township; Henry R.;
Philip, who resides in Marion county, Ohio; Jacob,
who also resides in Marion county; Charles, who lives in
Bucyrus; and Elizabeth, who is unmarried. The
mother died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five, the father
surviving until he was eighty-two. These worthy and pious
parents reared their children in the German Lutheran church and
did their best to give them a common-school education.
Until he was fifteen years old Henry Linn remained at
home, but the family was large and he early decided to look out
for himself, and for five or six years he worked by the month
and then bought a team and as a renter engaged in farming.
For about eight years he rented farms and finally bought a tract
of one hundred and thirty acres in Holmes township, but never
located on that land. After owning it for some three or
four years he sold it and bought one hundred and fifty-six acres
in Dallas township, upon which he moved, and there he lived for
two years, erecting a house and barns, with other outbuildings
and putting it into perfect repair. This enabled him to
sell at a good profit and then he bought a fine estate,
consisting of three hundred and twenty acres in Dallas township,
where he now lives. Here he has built one of the most
attractive residences in this locality, and one of those barns
so necessary upon a farm where large operations are successfully
carried on, and has made other improvements, both to beautify
and increase the value of his property. Since this
purchase he has added ninety acres and now owns four hundred and
ten acres of some of the finest land in the county.
In 1877 Mr. Linn married Miss Alice Martin,
the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) Martin,
pioneers of Crawford county. To Mr. and Mrs. Linn
three daughters and one son have been born: Grace E., who
has taught several terms of school; Gertie, who has also
proved herself a fine teacher; Helen and Ora.
With his wife and children he belongs to the Methodist church,
where all are highly valued. Mr. Linn has been a
life-long Democrat and has efficiently served for two years as
township treasurer.
Henry Martin, the farmer of Mrs. Linn,
was born in Richland county, Ohio, on Jan. 12, 1826, and was a
son of Charles Martin, a pioneer of Richland county, who
later lived in Crawford county and then removed to Huron county,
where he died. His ancestry was German.
Mr. Martin was married to Elizabeth Miller,
in 1853, in Marion county, Ohio, where Mrs. Martin's
parents were then living. She was born there. Her
parents, also of German descent, were early settlers of Marion
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin ten children were
born, all of whom survive and are George W., Alice J., Mary
J., Effie A., Sarah Ellen, Ida May, Viola I., Charles E., Harry
J. and Blanche I. The lamented death of Mr.
Martin occurred on Aug. 19, 1891, and his widow lives on the
old home place.
In 1857 Mr. Martin moved to Dallas township,
Crawford county, and established the home upon which his widow
now resides. By trade he was a carpenter, but he worked at
it very little after coming to this county. In business he
was fairly successful. He took a great interest in
Democratic party and for several years was justice of the peace
and township treasurer. He was held in high esteem in the
Methodist church, of which he was a worthy member.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County, Ohio -
Chicago: 1902 - Page 557 |
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WILLIAM LINN.
It is generally conceded that the state of Ohio has a type of
citizenship which is not surpassed by that of any other state in
the Union. From its farming communities have come men of
world-wide fame. Crawford county is particularly favored
and among the representatives of old and honored families is
William Linn, whose ancestors were among the early settlers.
William Linn was born in Holmes township,
Crawford county, on July 17, 1835, a son of William and
Sophia (Veivle) Linn, who reared a family of eight children,
four of whom still survive, these being: William of this
sketch; Caroline, the wife of Augustus Cronenbaugh
of Ada, Ohio; Julia, the wife of Louis Holker,
of Kansas City, Missouri; and Louis, of Williams county,
Ohio. The father and mother were born in Bavaria, Germany,
and married there, where two children were born. In the
spring of 1834 they emigrated to America, landing in New York
City, after a voyage of thirty-five days ,and coming then to
Ohio, spending six months in Massillon, where Mr. Linn
worked at his trade as a shoemaker. They then came to
Crawford county and settled on thirty acres of land, nearly all
of which was covered with timber, on the Sandusky pike road, in
Holmes township. Mr. Linn immediately set to
work clearing his land and built a log cabin and settled down to
hard and laborious work. Later he purchased eighty acres,
which is now owned by our subject, and an additional eighty
acres, which is now the property of Henry Leimenstoll.
The father lived and died on the thirty-acre farm, on Mar. 30,
1895, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His
political choice of party had been that of Democracy. A
faithful member of the German Lutheran church, he was valued for
his many excellent qualities.
Our subject was reared on the farm and found much to do
while still a lad. His school facilities were limited, but
his natural ability enabled him to learn quickly when he had the
oportunity. In 1856 he married Miss Leah
Fralick, a native of Holmes township, in this county, the
daughter of Jacob Fralick, one of the early
settlers of this county, the daughter of Jacob Fralick,
one of the early settlers of this county. Then Mr.
Linn located on his present home farm, which was covered
with timber except some fifteen acres, upon which was erected a
log cabin. Game was plentiful, squirrels, wild pigeons and
wild turkeys were abundant. Mr. Linn set about
industriously to clear his land and paid his father a stipulated
sum yearly up to the time of his death. A number of
additions have been made to the original tract, and now Mr.
Linn owns five hundred acres of some of the very choicest
land in Crawford county.
A family of seven children, two boys and five girls,
blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Linn, these being:
Washington G., a farmer of this township; Lafayette,
a farmer of this township; "Allie J., the wife of T.
W. James, of Holmes township; Lucy A., the wife of
Charles S. Spore of Holmes township; Melissa, at
home; Laura J., wife of George Heilerman of Marion
county; and Clara D., the wife of Welmer Sawyer, a
manufacturer of soft drinks in Bucyrus, Ohio.
Mr. Linn is a stanch Republican, although he was
born and bred a Democrat. Slavery in the old party caused
him to join the Republicans. For many years he has been a
consistent member of hte German Lutheran church, and is one of
the most highly esteemed men of the county.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County, Ohio -
Chicago: 1902 - Page 396 |
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D. W. LOCKE |
DANIEL W. LOCKE Source: A Centennial Biographical History
of Crawford County, Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 94 |
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A. O. LUCAS |
ARISTA O. LUCAS, M. D. Source: A Centennial Biographical
History of Crawford County, Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 212 |
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DAVID A. LUTZ.
Among the progressive men of Liberty township, Crawford county,
who are well known and respected, none stand higher in public
esteem than does David A. Lutz. Mr. Lutz was born
in Chatfield township, this county, on Sept. 9, 1867, a member
of a family of four children, the two survivors being himself
and his sister Catherine, the wife of W. E. Green,
of Liberty township. Daniel Lutz, the father, was
also a native of Chatfield township and was born on December 12,
1837, a son of Gottlieb and Gottlieben (Kibler) Lutz,
both of whom were born in Wurtemburg, Germany. There they
married and two of their children were born there before the
family emigrated, in 1832, to America. Their voyage
covered sixty days, and they came directly from New York to
Lisbon, Ohio, where Gottlieb worked for one year at his
trade of weaver. In 1833 he removed to Crawford county,
settled in Chatfield township, entered forty acres of land and
built his cabin in the forest. Later he bought additional
land until his farm numbered one hundred and twenty-eight acres.
His death took place on his farm when he was seventy-one years
old, his faithful wife having passed away in 1850.
At the age of twenty years Daniel Lutz began to
learn the carpenter's trade and worked at it for some time.
In 1865 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ulmer, and then
purchased his father's farm, the latter coming to live with his
son, and so continued until his death. In 1882 Mr. Lutz
purchased one hundred and eight acres of land, and also the
Keller farm of fifty acres which adjoined it on the east,
and then removed to his new home, disposing of his Chatfield
township farm some years later. Mr. Lutz is one of
the leading members of the Lutheran church, and for twelve years
has been a trustee and a member of the building committee that
erected the present imposing brick structure known as the St.
Paul German Lutheran church of Liberty township. In his
political life he has always been an uncompromising Democrat.
His life and character have made him one of the most esteemed
citizens of the county. The mother of our subject was born
in Liberty township, July 27, 1838, a daughter of Daniel and
Barbara Ulmer, both of them natives of Germany. They
come to Crawford county the same year as did the Lutz family.
The mother passed out of life May 11, 1898.
The early life of our subject, David A. Lutz,
was spent upon his father's estate, and he was afforded the best
possible opportunities for the attainment of an education.
When eighteen years old his father entrusted a portion of the
farm to his care, and he operated it on shares. On Dec.
10, 1891, he was married to Miss Mary Luidhardt, a native
of this township, a daughter of John and Louisa Luidhardt,
the former of whom was born in this township. His father,
George Luidhart, came to Crawford county at an early day.
Mother Luidhardt was a native of Germany and was brought
to this country when she was but a child.
In September, 1891, our subject, in partnership with
his brother-in-law, W. E. Green, purchased the old Keller
farm of seventy-two acres in Liberty township, both of these
having been the property of Mr. Lutz Sr. During one
summer the partners engaged in cultivating together, but in the
following September they divided their interests, out subject
acquiring the Keller farm, while Mr. Green took
the Chatfield township farm. Mr. Lutz is one of the
energetic young agriculturists of this county, and not only
successfully cultivates his own land but also tills eighty-six
acres of that belonging to his father. Like his father, he
is a stanch member of the Democratic party. For three
years he served as a trustee in the Lutheran church and is
highly valued there. He has displayed great ability in his
chosen occupation, and his success has been very gratifying not
only in a pecuniary way but also in the position it has given
his as a worthy representative of an honored and industrious
family.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 671 |
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D. E. LUTZ |
DAVID E. LUTZ.
Among the successful business men of Chatfield is the
subject of this review, a well-known representative of the
industrial interests of his community. He is a man of keen
discrimination and sound judgment, and his excellent management
and executive ability have brought to the concern with which he
is connected a high degree of success. Brooking no
Obstacles which honest effort can overcome, he has steadily
advanced on the high road to prosperity and today he occupies an
enviable position among the men of worth in his native county.
Mr. Lutz was born on the old home farm in
Chatfield township, Jan. 18, 1866, and the common schools
afforded him the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his
early youth, wile later he attended the high school in New
Washington and the Ohio Normal University at Ada. His
time, not given to the duties of the school-room, was devoted to
work upon the home farm, where he remained until 1885, when he
began teaching school through the winter months. At the
age of twenty-two he became connected with the operation of a
sawmill, but continued his labors as an instructor in the public
schools until twenty-five years of age. Since that
time he has engaged in general farming and stock-raising, but
his efforts have been by no means confined to this line, for
throughout the entire period he has also engaged in the lumber
business, operating a sawmill and conducting a lumber yard.
In 1897 he erected the plant of the Chatfield Bending Company,
in which enterprise he is associated with James McCormick.
They engaged the manufacture of bent-wood material for
carriages, wagons and sleds, and theirs is one of the leading
industrial interests in this part of the county.
Employment is furnished to twenty men in the shops, and the pay
roll and expenses for timber amount to from thirty-five to forty
hundred dollars per month. Their patronage is large and is
constantly growing, and the firm has an unassailable reputation
in business circles. On account of the excellence and
durability of the workmanship, as well as the straightforward
business methods of the partners, the Chatfield Bending Company
has a large trade, and the income of the partners is thus
annually augmented.
In May, 1889, Mr. Lutz was joined in wedlock to
Miss Elizabeth Kibler, and until them have been born four
children: Lester E., O. Ward, S. Vida and P.
Verna. The wife and mother died in Feb., 1898, and her
loss was widely felt throughout the community, for her many
estimable qualities had endeared her to a large circle of
friends. Mr. Lutz is regarded as a leading and
influential citizen and one whose force of character is felt in
the control of public affairs. He was elected the first
mayor of Chatfield after its incorporation and still holds the
position, and has splendidly performed the difficult task of
placing the new machinery of government in good working order.
In politics he is a stalwart Democrat and for several years has
served on the Democratic central committee, while for three
years he was township treasurer. He belongs to the German
Evangelical Lutheran church and is in hearty sympathy with every
movement for the general good and progress. Every public
duty and private obligation are discharged by him willingly and
faithfully. He is yet a young man, full of determination
and laudable ambition, combined with business ability, and while
he has already won prosperity still further success undoubtedly
awaits him.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 467 |
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EMANUEL L. LUTZ.
Upon the farm in Chatfield township upon which his father now
resides Emanuel L. Lutz was born and reared. His
birth occurred Dec. 16, 1853. At the usual age he entered
school and through the winter months pursued his studies, while
in the summer season he worked in the fields, Aiding in the
raising of crops from the time of early spring planting
until after the autumn harvests. He did to go out to work,
but assisted his father until his marriage, when he began making
a home of his own.
In 1874 Mr. Lutz was joined in wedlock to
Gertrude Schaffer, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine
Schaffer and their home has been enlivened and brightened by
the presence of five children born to them, namely:
Manetta, William F., Clara M., David H. and Emma L.
Soon after their marriage our subject and his wife removed to
their present farm. Here he owns one hundred and
twenty-three acres of land, and, like most of Ohio's farming
land, it is a richly productive tract, yielding good harvests
for the care and labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Lutz
also owns fifty-eight acres of land elsewhere and is a
successful general farmer. He realizes the dignity of
labor, and industry has been one of his chief characteristics
from his youth. Upon this he has builded his
success, his sound judgment and reliable dealing also assisting
him in acquiring the comfortable competence and good home which
are today his.
In his religious vies Mr. Lutz is a German
Evangelical Lutheran, holding membership in the church in
Chatfield. His political support is given the Democrat
party, and on the ticket he has been elected to public office,
having served as trustee of Chatfield township from 1895 until
1899, his long retention in office well indicating his faithful
performance of duty. His friends, and they are many, known
him as a man of genuine worth, and as a representative citizen
of this township he well deserves mention in the history of
Crawford county.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 667 |
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MICHAEL
LUTZ. The German element in our national
commonwealth is one of much importance. No country has
furnished so many valuable citizens to the United States as the
fatherland. They are men of diligence, determined and
self-reliant, and of this class Mr. Lutz is a
representative. He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Feb.
7, 1821, and spent his early youth upon a farm. In 1833 he
came with his stepfather, George Schemly, and the family
to America, the voyage being made in a sailing vessel which
reached the American harbor in ninety-five days after leaving
the German port.
In the spring of 1834 Mr. Lutz came to Crawford
county, taking up his abode in Chatfield township. The
next year he went to Pennsylvania and began carrying water for
the men working on the canal. In the fall he returned to
this county and the next summer worked on the Miami canal.
Subsequently he began working by the day, and when nineteen yeas
of age he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until
1861, being actively identified with the building interests of
the county throughout that period. He was a skillful
mechanic and was thus enabled to secure employment easily.
In the meantime, however, in 1849, he had invested his earnings
in one hundred and forty acres of land, which he cleared and
improved, transforming the wild tract which came into his
possession into a valuable farm. As the years have passed
he extended the boundaries of his property and now has two
hundred and ninety-two acres of valuable land, constituting a
very fine and attractive farm, supplied with all modern
accessories and improvements.
In 1848 Mr. Lutz was united in marriage to
Miss Sabina Kalb, and until them have been born eleven
children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Lutz is a
member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he
has held the offices of trustee and deacon, having been
identified with the society of that denomination in Chatfield
since its organization. He has ever taken a deep interest
in the growth and progress of the society and the extension of
its influence. In his political affiliations he is a
Democrat and has filled the position of trustee and school
director, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity.
His life has been crowned with success and though he started out
for himself empty-handed, he is now the owner of a valuable
farm. For two thirds of a century he has resided in the
county and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its
development and upbuilding and has borne his part in its
progress. His life, honorable and upright, has commended
him to the respect of his fellow men and no one is more worthy
of representation in this volume than Michael Lutz.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford
County, Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 464 |
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