Richland Twp. -
M. E. ZELLER, harness maker, Bluffton, was
born in Gilboa, Putnam Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1845, son of Andrew
(wagon maker) and Catherine (Henderson) Zeller, natives
of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively, and who reared a
family of five children. Our subject, who is next the
youngest, received a common school education, and early learned
the harness-maker's trade, which has been the business of his
life. He is also an inventor, and has taken out patents
on eight articles, all pertaining to harness, except one which
is a carriage improvement. His inventions, which are all
practical, will eventually come into general use, and he owns
them all except one that he sold to a manufacturing company in
Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Zeller worked at his trade in
Massillon, Ill., and in 1865 came to Bluffton where he also
works at harness-making, and is engaged in manufacturing a
spring bed (not his patent). He was married here in 1866,
to Nancy, daughter of Joseph Reese, of Richland
Township, this county, and their children are Charles P.,
Catherine, Winfred, Earl Scott, Jacob A. and Lillie May.
Mr. and Mrs. Zeller are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio - Publ.
Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 783 |
