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Source:
History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County
with
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
Pioneer and Prominent Public Men
by C. W. Williamson
Columbus, Ohio
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons
1905
BIOGRAPHIES
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Duchouquet Twp. -
H. W. TAEUSCH. Among the many
enterprises necessary to complete the commercial resources of a
town or city, none is of more importance than that of the
grocer, as being one of the main factors in the furnishing of
our food supplies. Prominent in this trade is the
establishment of Mr. H. W. Taeusch, which is one of the
most complete in its line in the city. This gentleman was
born in the grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Germany, Nov. 29, 1825,
and his parents, Caroll W. and Sophia E. (Steinmetz)
Taeusch, were natives of the same place.
In 1835 the parents of our subject emigrated to America
and landed in Baltimore, where they remained for a short time,
and then with wagon they went from there to Cincinnati. At
the latter place they disposed of their teams and went by boat
to St. Louis. Not being satisfied with the country, they
came back as far as Louisville, Kentucky, remained there a few
weeks, and then again entered the city of Cincinnati.
Still later they went to Miamisburgh, Ohio, and while there
heard of the rapid filling up of the Wapakoneta country, the
Indians having just been driven out. In the fall of 1835
they came to what is now Auglaize county, and purchased eighty
acres of land, one and one-half miles southwest of Wapakoneta.
This was covered with timber at that time, and after clearing a
small portion, a rude log cabin with clapboard roof was erected.
The cracks were plastered with mud, the clapboards, were
weighted down with poles, and in this primitive manner Mr.
Taeusch and family began their career as pioneers. As
years passed by, they gradually began to gather around them many
of the comforts and conveniences of life, and as improvement
after improvement was made on the place, it soon became a very
attractive and pleasant home.
Mr. Taeusch inherited all the thrift and energy
of his German ancestors, and it was not long before the humble
log cabin was supplanted by a comfortable hewn-log house, which
at that time and day was considered one of the finest in the
country. In this the father's death occurred in 1863.
The mother had passed away in 1851. While a resident of
the Old Country, Mr. Taeusch was a very prominent man,
and held the office which we call county treasurer. This
position is a Government office in Germany, and he held this for
over twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Taeusch were the
parents of one son and two daughters, as follows: Mena,
who married Mr. Everett, and remained in Germany, is now
deceased; the other daughter, Charlotte, became the wife
of John Rummel and is now a resident of Kentucky.
The original of this notice was about nine years of age
when he came with his parents to this country, and he well
remembers the voyage across the briny deep. After settling
with his parents in Auglaize county, Ohio, he assisted them in
clearing the farm and making improvements, and thus acquired
habits of industry and perseverance, which have remained with
him through life. He received a common-school education,
but his advantages were not of the best, for he was obliged to
work hard, as he was the main hand on the farm of his father.
The principal part of his education was received from his
father, who was a man of intelligence, and his record is an
example of what can be accomplished by ambitious and intelligent
young men, whose only fortune at first consists of good health,
energy, integrity, and firmness of purpose.
After the death of the father, our subject continued on
the farm until 1866, when he removed to Wapakoneta with his
brother-in-law, and engaged in the provision business under the
firm name of Fisher & Taeusch, which continued until the
spring of 1870, when they sold out with the intention of
locating in the Lone Star State. After reaching that
State, they settled for a short time in Austin, but subsequently
returned to Wapakoneta, where our subject bought and built his
present fine residence. In 1873 he opened a grocery store,
and this he has carried on successfully ever since. He is
one of the leading grocers of the place always keeps trade.
He owns a farm near Wapakoneta, and is a prosperous and
substantial citizen. he has several times been nominated
for office, but as he is on the minority side, he has never been
elected.
In the year 1853 he married Miss Julia Miller,
who bore him seven children, five of whom are living, viz.:
Henry C., who owns an interest in the sore; Sophia,
John, Lizzie and Sarah. Mrs. Taeusch
died in January, 1869. On the 7th of December, 1872, our
subject was married to Miss Mary Frische, a native of
Hanover, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Taeusch are faithful
members of the Lutheran Church.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C.
W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 642 |
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Noble Twp. -
WILLIAM
TAYLOR, a veteran of three wars, was born in New
Jersey, July 4, 1754, and was twenty-two years old when the battle
of Lexington was fought. He joined the Revolutionary army in
1775, and served until the close of the war. He is known to
have participated in the battles of Brandywine, Stony Point and
the Siege at York Town. At the conclusion of the
Revolutionary War, he led a maritime life until 1793, when he
enlisted in General Wayne's campaign against the Indians of
northwestern Ohio. He was present at the battle of Fallen
Timbers, and was an active participant in many of the skirmishes
of that memorable campaign. In the spring of 1775, he was
mustered out of service at Greenville, when he returned to
Pennsylvania and married. In the fall of the same year he
moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, and engaged in farming. In
1813, he enlisted in the company at Chillicothe, and joined
General Green Clay's regiment at Cincinnati, and accompanied
him in his march to relieve Fort Meigs, then besieged by the
British and Indians. In October of the same year he
participated in the battle of the Thames, where Proctor,
the British General, was defeated, and Tecumseh the Indian
chieftain was slain.
At the conclusion of the war of 1812, he returned to
Pickaway county where he resided until 1833, when he and a number
of families, residents of that county, moved to Logan township.
In this township he entered one hundred and thirteen acres of land
in section 35.
Mr. Taylor was a man of good general
information, well read in his country's history, and was
considered an authority on the wars in which he had participated.
In politics he was an old line Whig, and when the Republican party
was organized he became an ardent supporter of it.
Mr. Taylor was four times married. Of
these marriages four children were born: Margaret
(wife of Isaac Terwillager), Susan (Wife of L.
Vance), Elizabeth, (wife of Robert Beard), and
Harriet, (wife of John Dehart).
His pioneer experiences were about the same as those of
his neighbors, the Sunderlands, the Richardsons, the
Berrymans and the Places.
He lived on the farm that he entered in 1833, until
he was a hundred and four years of age, when he sold it, and
distributed his effects among his children and grandchildren.
The last ten years of his life he resided with his daughter,
Mrs. Harriet Dehart, near Spencerville, Ohio. He died
July 4th 1868, aged 114 years.
Source 1: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -
by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905 |
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Duchouquet Twp. -
JOHN
H. TIMMERMEISTER, the subject of this sketch, was born
near Osnabrueck, in the province of Hanover, Germany, April
13th, 1831. He started to learn the tinner trade in the
spring of 1845, and served an apprenticeship of four years from
that date. After the four years had elapsed, he worked at
his trade until July 9th, 1851, when he left the fatherland and
sailed for the United States. He arrived at New York City
in September, and remained in the city about four years, working
at his trade a portion of the time, and part of the time selling
goods. Mr. Timmermeister came to Wapakoneta in
July, 1855, and was soon engaged as a salesman in O. T.
Dieker's dry goods store. He continued in Mr.
Dieker's employ until the spring of 1859 when he commenced
business for himself, under the firm name of J. H.
Timmermeister & Co.
Mr. Timmermeister now only succeeded as a merchant,
but in every enterprise to which he lent his time and talent.
He was one of the organizers to which he lent his time and
talent. He was one of the organizers of the Wapakoneta
Wheel Company, and was president of the company from its
organization to the date of his death. He was also a
stockholder and director in the First National Bank. In
1885 he erected the large brick block, the first floor of which
has since been occupied by his department stores, and the second
floor by the well-known Timmermeister Opera House.
On the 22d of August, 1859, Mr. Timmermeister
was united in marriage wth Miss Caroline Machetanz.
Of this marriage nine children were born, of whom William C.
Timmermeiser. Mrs. Bertha Herbst, Mrs. Carrie Mead,
Mrs. Louise Rogers, Miss Emma, and Karl are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Timmermeister were members of St.
Paul's Lutheran Church, and were active members in the
establishment of that denomination in Wapakoneta.
Mr. Timmermeister died October 29th, 1902.
Source 1: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -
by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905 - Page 641 |
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Duchouquet Twp. -
W. F.
TORRENCE, superintendent of public schools and auditor of
Auglaize county, was born in Essex county, New York, February
3d, 1836. He grew to manhood on a farm. He became a
prominent teacher in his native county and was also engaged in
merchandising previous to his removal to Ohio in 187. In
that year he secured the superintendency of the schools in St.
Mary's, where he continued for eleven years, going then to a
like position at New Bremen, where he remained until his removal
to Wapakoneta in the fall of 1883 to assume his duties as county
auditor. He served in this capacity almost seven years,
retiring in September, 1890. He was for many years one of
the county school examiners, and was throughout his life closely
identified with educational work, and especially so in this
county during his sixteen yeas' residence in St. Mary's
and New Bremen.
Mr. Torrence was married in 1858 to Miss
Diadema C. Wood, also a native of New York. To them
were born eight children, four of whom are living: Minnie,
the oldest, is now Mrs. Duvall, of Salt Lake, Utah;
Carl W., Mattie and Harry.
Mr. Torrence was an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church all his life, and was a sincere,
earnest Christian man. In religion as in other matters he
was a man of strong convictions and possessed of the courage and
ability to maintain them.
Mr. Torrence was a man of great energy and
capacity, and was successful as an instructor, as a public
officer, and as a business man. He was widely known and
highly respected. He died May 5th, 1896.
Source 1: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -
by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905 - Page 644 |
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Wayne Twp. -
WILLIAM SETH TURNER, M. D., is a son of
John D. and Harriet Turner and was born in Wayne township,
this country June 20, 1861. When about four years of age
his father died, and seven years later his mother was married to
Joshua Montague. Young Turner remained at
home until sixteen years of age, working on the farm and
attending the schools of his neighborhood. At seventeen he
commenced to fight life's battle for himself and began teaching.
Later he finished his literary education at the Northwestern
Ohio Normal University at Ada. On the day he attained his
majority he selected the medical profession as his calling, and
in 1884 graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute at
Cincinnati. He practiced his profession at Leipsic, Ohio,
for one year, when he returned to this county and located at
Waynesfield, purchasing the business of Dr. R. I. Krebs.
Dr. Turner is one of the ablest members of the profession
in this section of Ohio, is a thorough gentleman, and is making
a splendid success. He is a member of the School Board at
Waynesfield and is serving as recording secretary of the Ohio
State Eclectic Medical Association. He is a
public-spirited citizen, and in 1897 erected a large business
block at Waynesfield, the second story of which is known as
Turner's Hall. In 1885 he was married to Miss Mary
C. Patterson, of Allen county, and one child, Victor R.
has been born to them. Dr. Turner is a Mason, and a
prominent member of the Baptist Church.
(From Walsh's Biographical Sketches of Auglaize county.)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 746 |
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