BIOGRAPHIES

‡ Source:
Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio
Publ. by The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago & New York
1920
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

< CLICK HERE to RETURN to 1920 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to GO to LIST of BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
 

Mr. & Mrs. James Dickson	JAMES DICKSON Source: Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio - by The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1920 - Page 409
Myron E. Doane	MYRON E. DOANE Source: Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio - by The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1920 - Page 62
	WILLIAM O. DOMITIO, was until recently the senior partner of the firm of Domitio and Ruppert, clothiers, tailors and gentlemen's furnishings dealers of Wauseon, Ohio.  The firm was a continuation of the business established by his uncle, Christopher Domitio, almost fifty years ago had an extensive trade, especially in custom tailoring, and was extensively developed by Mr. William C. Domitio, after he purchased his uncle's interest in 1907.  And he  had the gratification of seeing his son among the first young patriots to leave Wauseon for military service after the nation became in a state of war with Germany; and he had the still greater satisfaction in seeing his son return from the war cheerful in spirit and sound in limb after a service of about two years in the war zone.      William C. Domitio is the son of Joseph and Mary (Durnwald) Domitio.  His genealogy in the parental line traces back to an old French family, latterly domiciled in Alsace, while in the maternal line the origin is Teutonic.  Joseph Domitio was a cabinet maker in his home land, and when he immigrated to America he found no difficulty in following his trade.  At first he settled at Norwalk, Ohio, and there married.  He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom their son William C. was the third born.  William C. was born at Wauseon in 1862, and  there he received the main part of his education, attending the public schools there until the family removed to Toledo, where William C. attended the parochial school of St. Peter's.  He began to work when thirteen years old, his first work being in a brush factory.  Then for a while he worked in a trunk factory, but about two years after leaving school he returned to Wauseon, on May 15, 1876, so that he might learn the trade of tailor in the establishment of his uncle, Christopher Domitio.  In Wauseon, and with his uncle, he remained for five years, during which time he became a competent tailor.  Then followed a service of three years as tailor to Clark and Krike of Toledo, and another Toledo tailor, Thomas Vanaarle.  Eventually, however, he returned to Wauseon, and again worked for his uncle, with whom he remained until his uncle retired from business, which event was made possible by the purchase of the business by the nephew in partnership with another Wauseon man, Samuel Ruppert.  The change of ownership occurred on July 26, 1907, after which time the business was known under the firm name of Domitio and Ruppert.  The partners, being younger and more aggressive men, expanded the business considerably, until it became one of much volume.  In the custom tailoring department especially they had a very wide connection, supplying clothes even to Toledo people, while within a radius of fifteen miles of Wauseon they had a good portion of the business in that line.  In February, 1920, Mr. Domitio disposed of his interest in the business to his partner, Mr. Ruppert.  He has since accepted a position with the Willys-Overland Company, Toledo.      Mr. Domitio is a staunch republican, and has given unwavering support to that party since entitled to a vote.  And in the local affairs he has taken close interest, although he has never shown any desire to seek public office.  He is a devout Catholic.      In July, 1882, in Toledo, he married Mary Neidhardt, of Toledo, who has borne him three children:  Mary who married Schuyler Sullinger, of Wauseon, and has one child, a son, William; Eleanor, who married Charles Gerringer, of Wauseon, and has one child, her son Richard; Joseph Casper, who was born in Wauseon, Ohio, in 1896, was educated in the public schools of the place, and eventually graduated from the Wauseon High School in the class of 1914.  He intended to enter into business association with his father, and with that object began to work in the store soon after he had graduated, and he had gained a good knowledge of the business during the next few years.  In 1917, however, when the nation became involved in the European war, young Domitio was one of the first of Wauseon's young men to volunteer for military service.  He enlisted in the Engineer Corps of the United States Army on May 2, 1917, at Toledo, Ohio, and was sent to Washington Barracks, District of Columbia.  On Aug. 17, 1917, his regiment was ordered to France, and was one of the first units to reach the theatre of war.  Eventually young Domitio was transferred to General Headquarters, under General Nolan.  He rose steadily through the grades until he had the responsibility and rank of sergeant-major to which grade he was promoted on Mar. 25, 1918.  On May 1, 1919, he was still at Chaumont, France, attached to the General Headquarters of General Pershing; and he was among the last American troops, with the exception of odd details and the Army of Occupation, to leave France.  HE and his friend, Le Roy Donat, were the first boys to leave Fulton county for the military service after the outbreak of the war and the two first to land in France, and he was one of the last to return - a creditable record.  In April, 1920, he married Nola Strayer, of Wauseon, and they now make their home in Toledo. ‡ Source: Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio - by The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1920 - Page 478

.