Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 510

OSCAR C. KERLIN, D. D. S.  One of the popular citizens and successful dentists of Greenville, Ohio, is Dr. Kerlin, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1861, and is a son of William K. and Hannah B. (Jefferis) Kerlin, also natives of that county, the former born March 2, 1832, and latter November 28, 1830. They were married on the 1st of December, 1853. More extended mention is made of this worthy couple on another page of this volume.
     Dr. Kerlin spent the first four years of his life in the county of his nativity and in March, 1865, was brought by his parents to Harrison township, Darke county, Ohio, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years. In 1870 the family removed to Greenville, where the Doctor attended the public schools conducted by Professor J. T. Martz, and later graduated at the Greenville Commercial College. He began his business career as a bookkeeper for Rody Ryan, a railroad contractor, with whom he remained six years, and on the expiration of that time commenced the study of dentistry under the instruction of Dr. Little, of Greenville. Subsequently he entered the dental department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1889.  Immediately after his graduation he opened an office in Versailles, Darke county, where he remained twelve months, and then returned to Greenville and formed a partnership with his former preceptor, Dr. Little, with whom he was engaged in practice for three years. Since then he has been alone.  He has a well equipped office, supplied with all the latest appliances known to the profession, for he is progressive and enterprising and keeps well informed on the latest discoveries and theories made in the science of dentistry. He has built up a large practice, which is constantly increasing, and his patronage comes from the best class of people.
     November 26, 1896, Dr. Kerlin married Miss Avarilla K. Fahnestock, who traces her ancestry back to Germany. Her parents were Rev. James and Rachel A. (Worley) Fahnestock, and her maternal grandparents were Rev. Caleb and Elizabeth (Adams) Worley. The Doctor and his wife have two sons: Oscar R., born November 4, 1897, and William Worley, born November 2, 1899. Fraternally Dr. Kerlin is a member of Champion Lodge, No. 742, and Greenville Encampment, No. 90, I. O. O. F.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 589

MORE TO COME

Page 667

then our subject purchased his brother's interest and formed a partnership with Samuel Swinger, to whom he sold out a year later.  He next purchased a piece of property from Dr. McCrew at Painter Creek and erected thereon a confectory stand which his wife carried on while he devoted his attention to tobacco culture.  His next purchase consisted of thirty-three acres of land on section 2, Van Buren township, and he later sold his property at Painter Creek and located on his farm Mar. 5, 1881, since which time he has engaged in farming, tobacco culture and the raising of small fruits with most gratifying success.  He also owns eight acres south of his farm, and in 1899 he erected a beautiful residence upon his place.
     Mr. Pleasant was married, Aug. 5, 1878, to Miss Isabelle Miller, who was born in Van Buren township, Apr. 20, 1857, a daughter of Emanuel and Nancy (Wagerman) Miller, and to them have been born six children, namely:  Mollie M., who married Jesse Flory, of Franklin township, Darke county, and they have two children, Roy and Alma; Mattie Rosella, the wife of John Burr of Greenville; and Allie Viola, Vernie Forest, May and Jessie Omega, all at home.  Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant are members of the Christian church and politically he is identified with the Democratic party.  For the success they have achieved in life they deserve much credit, and they are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 665

HERMAN F. KRUCKEBERG.     Among the native sons of Darke county is numbered Herman F. Kruckeberg, who is also classified among the most enterprising and progressive representatives of agricultural interests sin this section of the state.  Washington said more than a century ago that "agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation to which man can devote his energies," and the saying remains as true to-day as when uttered.  The past aggregate of business along all lines depends in greater measure upon the farming interests of the world than upon any other pursuit.  Continually commercial and professional ranks are recruited by those who come from the farm, and it is no longer considered that such men occupy a higher plane of life.  The farmer is a business man, actively identified with the affairs of life, the equal of his city brother in education and his associate in business affairs.  He has recognized the fact that scientific principles underlie his labors and takes due cognizance of this in the operation of his land, as is shown by rotating crops, the use of fertilizers and the adoption of many improvements which facilitates his work and produces better results.  Mr. Kruckeberg is one of the wide-awake and enterprising farmers of Darke county, possessing many of the sterling characteristics of his German ancestry.  At his name indicates, his forefathers lived in Germany, and came to America to seek a home and fortune in the land of the free.
     Our subject was born in Brown township, on the 10th of December, 1868, and is the fifth in a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, whose parents were Karl Frederick Ludwig and Hermina Charlotte (Bartling) Kruckeberg.  the father was born in the little province of Chamburg [Shaumburg?], near the beautiful river Rhine, whose vine-clad hills are adorned by many an ancient castle erected in baronial days.  The date of his birth was Apr. 17, 1832, and he died on the 13th of May, 1895.  He belonged to one of the old and prominent families of the fatherland and acquired an excellent education in his native tongue.  He was reared as an agriculturist and spent the first twenty years of his life in the country of his nativity, after which he determined to take up his abode in the new world, hoping to better his financial condition in this country.
     In company with his parents and four of their children he sailed from Bremen in a sailing vessel, the voyage continuing through seven weeks.  A landing was effected at New York, in June, 1852, and the family made their way westward to Darke county, where three hundred and fifty acres of land in Brown township was purchased.  The first home of the family was an old frame building lined with brick.  In this regon, then largely wild and unimproved, the grandfather of our subject laid the foundation of his future prosperity and in the primitive home Karl Kruckeberg began life as an American citizen.  He acquired a knowledge of the English language through contact with the people of his adopted country.  He was a man of firm decision of character and possessed all the cardinal virtues of an upright, honorable citizen.  He was highly respected, was a consistent member of the St. John's Lutheran church, of Greenville township, and contributed liberally toward the erection of the church and toward maintaining its work along its various lines of activity.  He was a good man, and his liberality was well known by all.  The poor and needy found in him a friend and were never turned away from his door empty handed.  He gave freely in support of all benevolent measures which he believed would benefit his fellow men and lived a life well worthy of emulation, leaving to his family the priceless heritage of a good name.  He was fond of travel and enjoyed studying the different manners and customs of different parts of the country.  He did not believe that any one should live the life of a hermit,  but should have accurate knowledge of his fellow men and be in close touch with them.  Accompanied by his estimable wife, he made a number of journeys to distant parts of his adopted land and gained that knowledge and culture which only travel can bring.
     In politics he was an ardent supporter of the Democracy, believing firmly in its policy and earnestly advocating its doctrines.  He was, however, not bitterly partisan and  granted to others the right which he reserved for himself, of forming their own opinions.  His follow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, frequently called him to public office and he served for two terms as township trustee of Brown township, discharging his duties in a very prompt and capable manner.  His co-operation was given to all movements calculated to prove of general good, and he was especially earnest in his advocacy of maintaining an excellent public school system.  He believed in the German idea of educating the masses and making it compulsory that all children should attend school, for he realized fully the value and importance of education as a preparation for life's responsible duties.  He served as school director for a number of years and his labors in behalf of the schools were practical and effective.
     In his private business affairs he was successful, becoming the owner of four hundred acres of fine land in Brown and Richland townships.  In 1880 he erected upon his farm a fine two-story barn, with a basement 40x76 feet.  He also built one of the best brick residences in the county, and these structures stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise.  The home is a two-story house with an attic and basement, and is built of stone and brick, in the English style of architecture, and adorned with a slate roof.  Nearly all of the interior finishings of this residence have been made from wood taken from the farm.  The place commands a splendid view of the surrounding country and is one of the most attractive homes in Darke county.  Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, outbuildings and fences being kept in good repair and the well tilled fields give promise of golden harvests.
     When Mr. Kruckeberg died his township lost one of its most valued citizens, his neighbors a faithful friend and his children a kind of devoted father.  His remains were interred in the St. John's cemetery, where a beautiful Scotch granite monument has been erected to his memory by his loving children.  His wife, who was born in Fredericksburg, in the province of Oldendorf, Germany, Sept. 15, 1839, died Jan. 8, 1899, when in her sixtieth year.  She was a devoted Christian woman, a loving and faithful wife and mother, and her teachings are treasured by her children, upon whom her influence was most marked.  Her kind deeds will long be remembered by those who know her and her memory is enshrined in the hearts of all with whom she was brought in contact.
     In the family of this worthy couple were twelve children, of whom eleven are yet living, namely: Amelia, the widow of William Requarth, a resident of Greenville, Ohio; Charles, a farmer, who is married and lives in Edinburg, Illinois; Caroline, the wife of W. F. Ostermeier, an agriculturist of Woodside, Illinois; Herman F., of this review; Sophia, the wife of H. E. Ostemeir, who follows farming near Chatham, Illinois; Charlotte, the wife of F. J. Ostemeier, an agriculturist living near Springfield, Illinois; John, who is living on the old homestead in Brown township; Mary, who makes her home with her brothers.  Herman and John; Oddie, an agriculturist living in Springfield, Illinois; Emma, who is living on the old homestead; and Willie, the youngest of the family, who is yet in school.
     Herman F. Kruckeberg has spent his entire life in Darke county, his boyhood days being passed in the usual manner of farmer lads.  He enjoyed the educational privileges, afforded by the common schools of the neighborhood, and through the summer months he assisted in the labors of field and meadow, so that he gained a practical knowledge of the work to which he now devotes his energies.  The sturdy independence, perseverance and industry characteristic of the German people are manifest in life.  Indolence an idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and the labors on the home farm have resulted in securing good crops, which annually augment his income.  He resides with his brothers upon the old family homestead, his time being given almost exclusively to the work of the farm.  His methods are progressive and he and his brothers keep up in first-class condition the fine farm which their father developed.
     In his political views Herman F. Kruckeberg is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote in 1896, for William Jennings Bryan.  At the age of fourteen years he was confirmed in the German Lutheran church, with which he has since been identified.  His life has been an honorable and upright one, which has cast no blot upon the untarnished family name.  He commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact and is known as a reliable business man and loyal citizen, who gives a public support to all measures which he believes will prove of general benefit.  No history of Darke county would be complete without the record of the Kruckeberg family, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present their history to the readers of this volume.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Pt. II - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 385