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Biographies
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)
Source :
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, OHIO
and Representative Citizens
Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio
Published by Biographical Publishing Co.
Chicago, Illinois
1907
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HENRY GAST,
a leading business man of Chickasaw, owner of the substantial
brick block which is a credit to the town and proprietor of
one of the oldest mercantile establishments here, has been a
resident of this county for the past 40 years. Mr. Gast was
born on his father's farm in Auglaize County, Ohio, March 14,
1842, and is a son of Peter and Gertrude (Eilerman) Gast.
The Gast family is of French extraction. The
grandparents of Henry Gast were Andrew
and Theresa Gast. Both were born in France
and were reared and married there, and when they emigrated to
America they brought their four children with them—two sons
and two daughters. They landed , at the port of' Baltimore,
but shortly afterward removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and
subsequently the father bought a farm near Minster, in
Auglaize County. The eldest son, Mathias, became a
merchant and was the founder of .the business which our
subject is conducting. The second son, Peter, the
father of our subject, remained a farmer. He became a very
well-known citizen and was concerned in many of the early
enterprises, which served to open up this section to peaceful
and rapid settlement. He assisted in the building of the dam
at the Grand Reservoir at Celina and also helped in the
construction of the canal. In the developing of his property
he was an industrious and judicious man, and as time went on
he acquired a large amount of valuable farming land. He had
made his home in so dense a forest, that when he or members of
his family wished to go from Minster to Celina they had to
follow a blazed path in order to keep from being lost.
Shortly after reaching Minster, Peter Gast
was united in marriage with his first wife, Gertrude
Eilerman, who died when her sixth child was born. The
children of this marriage were the following: Joseph,
Henry, Dena, Clara, Mary and
Anna. Later, Peter Gast married the widow of
Joseph Inecanke, and they had four children,
namely: Barney, Catherine, Clemmens
(deceased) and Ferdinand. The last named now conducts a
grocery business at Chickasaw. Peter Gast died
in 1895 at Celina. His second wife is also deceased.
Henry Gast was reared on his father's
farm, removing from Auglaize . to Mercer County, in 1866. He
had been identified with all the important public movements in
this section and has been the enterprising promoter of many of
Chickasaw's leading business activities. When a very young
man, he helped to repair the old plank road that then ran
through Chickasaw, which was then but a village, and later,
when the old road was transformed into a turnpike, he helped
in constructing that also. Later he acquired, a half interest
in the grain elevator at Chickasaw, which he subsequently
disposed of. He also owned and operated both a sawmill and
brickyard and it was in these plants that he made the lumber
and the bricks with which he has done a great deal of
building. He owns the only brick block in Chickasaw, in which
he conducts his business.
As mentioned, the founder of the present general mercantile
business conducted by our subject was his uncle Mathias.
His successor was Joseph Gast, the elder brother
of our subject, who later admitted Henry to partnership
and when Joseph finally withdrew Henry became sole proprietor.
Up to this time the business had been carried on in the old
quarters, but such expansion soon took place that Mr.
Gast found it necessary to enlarge his accommodations
to meet his increasing trade. He then erected his present
two-story, brick block, a handsome structure, with cement
sidewalk in front. Mr. Gast enjoys abundant
patronage from the town and surrounding country, .as he
carries a large and carefully selected stock of high grade
shoes, dry goods, notions, men's furnishings, and a large line
of queensware. Mr. Gast is a painstaking and
courteous merchant and commands the confidence of the
community as to the quality of his goods.
Mr. Gast was married (first) to Mary
Schwietermann, who was a member of one of the very
prominent families of this section, and was a sister of
Harman Henry Schwietermann, of Franklin
township, formerly county commissioner of Mercer County.
Mrs. Gast died May 16, 1888. Seven children were
born to this marriage, as follows : Louis, deceased;
Regenia, deceased; Rose, who is a saleslady in a
large mercantile establishment at Dayton, Ohio; Frank,
owning a large barber shop in San Francisco, who safely passed
through the earthquake of April 18, 1906; Julius, who is in
business at Chickasaw; Henry, who has charge of his
father's livery business at Chickasaw; and Maria, a
very, competent and intellectual young lady, who very ably
assists her father in the management of a part of his
business. Mr. Gast married (second) Mrs.
Elizabeth Stelzer, and they have one son, Leo. Mrs.
Gast takes a great deal of interest in the management of
the business and Mr. Gast attributes much of his
prosperity to her excellent judgment. She thoroughly
understands the business and manages very efficiently when
Mr. Gast's many other interests claim his attention.
Mr. Gast and family belong to the Catholic
Church and he is a member. of St. Joseph's Society. He has
always been a liberal contributor to church finances as well
as to the upbuilding of the town along educational lines.
Mr. Gast stands as one of the representative men of the
southeastern section /of Mercer County.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 723 |
Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey |
HON. THOMAS J. GODFREY.
Among the mass of good citizens, who have made Mercer County
a leading county of the Buckeye State, there have arisen
individuals, who, through their superior ability, their
greater enterprise and their more pronounced public spirit,
have added luster in their fields of work and have
distinguished themselves for posterity. Such a one was
the late Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey, who for more than 30
years served faithfully in public life and for 50 years was
prominently identified with the business, educational and
social affairs of the village of Celina.
Thomas J. Godfrey, whose portrait accompanies
this sketch, was born June 6, 1831, in Darke County, Ohio,
and died at Celina, Nov. 30, 1906. He was a son of
Elias B. and Sarah (Elliott) Godfrey, the former of whom
was born in Ohio and the latter in North Carolina. Mr.
Godfrey’s parents reared a family of seven children, two of
whom now survive. The father died in 1888, and the
mother in 1891, at Dowagiac, Michigan, to which place they
had removed in 1859.
Mr. Godfrey enjoyed more extended educational
opportunities than were afforded many youths of his time and
after he had completed his academic and university training,
receiving the latter in Asbury University, at Greencastle,
Indiana, he began to teach school and met with such success
that the two succeeding years were passed as an educator,
both in Ohio and Indiana. His ambition, however, was
to attain eminence as a lawyer and he began reading law in
the office of Allen & Meeker, at Greenville,
Ohio. In 1857 he was graduated at the Cincinnati Law
School. Shortly after being admitted to practice by
the Supreme Court of Ohio at Columbus, he located at Celina,
which village continued his home the remainder of his life.
Mr. Godfrey's active entrance into politics may
be dated from 1863, when he was elected prosecuting attorney
of Mercer County. By the close of his first term, his
public efficiency had been so acknowledged that he was
enthusiastically and unanimously renominated, but pending
the election he was nominated to the State Senate by the
convention representing the district then composed of the
counties of Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Van Wert,
Paulding and Williams. From the first his election was an
assured fact and his administration of the office was so
satisfactory that in 1867 he was returned to the Senate.
Upon the organization of the General Assembly in
January, 1868, Mr. Godfrey was honored by
election as president pro tem, and this office, like
every other, he administered with fidelity and efficiency.
In 1869, when the Democratic party selected the late Hon.
George H. Pendleton as its candidate for Governor of
Ohio, Mr. Godfrey was equally honored by being
selected for the office of Lieutenant-Governor. In
that year the party met universal defeat in the State.
In 1873 Mr. Godfrey was chosen a member of the
constitutional convention, that notable body of
distinguished men, and he served with characteristic
capacity on its judiciary committee during its sessions in
1873 and 1874. In spite of the legal learning and careful
weighing of important issues which characterized this
eminent body, the constitution submitted by it to the
popular vote was rejected in the fall of 1874.
When the campaign of 1880 opened, Mr. Godfrey
was advanced by his party as a presidential elector for the
Fifth Congressional District, but was defeated with his
party. In October, 1881, Mr. Godfrey was
again returned to the State Senate, the senatorial district
comprising the counties of Mercer, Van Wert, Auglaize,
Allen, Paulding, Defiance and Williams. In 1883 he was
re-elected.
With his retirement from the political field, Mr.
Godfrey took, if possible, a still greater interest
in matters more closely pertaining to his own community as
well as to the educational affairs of the county and State.
He had more time to devote to them.
For seven years he served as president of the board of
trustees of the Ohio State University, and was a member of
this body from May, 1878, to May, 1903, a period of just 25
years. On June 2, 1903, the board of trustees of the
Ohio State University adopted a set of resolutions,
expressing the sentiment of the board relative to Mr.
Godfrey’s retirement, from which we quote, in
substance, a part:—“On May 12, 1903, since our last meeting,
the term of the Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey, as member of
the board of trustees, expired. He did not seek
reappointment, preferring to retire after having rounded out
25 years of continuous service. Mr. Godfrey
was first appointed a member of the board of trustees of the
Ohio State University, under the act of May 1, 1878, for the
term of four years, his appointment dating from May 13,
1878; he was reappointed for seven years in 1882, 1889 and
1896. On May 16, 1878, at the first meeting' of the
board under the act above mentioned, he was elected its
president, and was re-elected Nov. 5, 1878. He was
again elected president of the board Nov. 14, 1883, and
re-elected November 14, 1884. In November, 1889, he
was again elected to this position and re-elected in 1890
and 1891. He served on several committees; was
chairman of finance at different periods; was chairman of
the committee on faculty and courses of study for several
years; and was chairman of the special committee that
reported the plan of organization of the College of Law.
He took an active part in the establishment of this college
and was one of its most active supporters. He seldom
missed a meeting of the board. His loyalty and
devotion to the interest of the University during his long
period of service never abated. His service began when
the University was small in numbers, weak in influence,
meager in income and a supplicant for needed support.
He saw it grow in numbers, power and influence until it
assumed its present proud position, and had the satisfaction
of knowing that he had contributed to such growth. In
his intercourse with his fellow members of the board, with
members of the faculty and with the student body, he was
always courteous and kindly, and took a friendly interest in
all that was going on. The trust that was confided in
him a quarter of a century ago has been faithfully
discharged, and he retires with the good wishes of his
associates, the faculty, students, alumni and all friends of
the University.” The members of the general faculty of
the University expressed themselves as follows, relative to
Mr. Godfrey’s retirement: “The Hon. T. J.
Godfrey having retired from the board of trustees of
Ohio State University after a continuous membership of 25
years, we as members of the General Faculty hereby express
our sincere appreciation of his long and eminently faithful
service and our regret that the affairs of the University
are no longer to receive the benefit of his careful
oversight and judicious counsel. We follow him into
his retirement with our kindly wishes and the hope that the
future may bring him none but peaceful and happy years.”
Coming closer home, Mr. Godfrey found
time to serve as county school examiner at various times and
was a regular and welcome visitor at all the Teachers’
Institutes held in Mercer County, of which there have been
48 annual sessions since the movement was inaugurated in
1859.
In business life Mr. Godfrey was also a
leading factor for years, both in city and village.
With R. G. Blake, G. W. Raudabaugh, E. M.
Piper, A. P. J. Snyder, T. G. TouVelle,
William Dickman, Christopher Schunck
and S. S. Snyder, he became one of the stockholders
of the first building and loan association organized at
Celina. This company was chartered as the Celina
Building and Loan Association, on Feb. 2, 1870, and when the
stockholders held their first meeting for the election of
officers, Mr. Godfrey was chosen president.
Two years later, Mr. Godfrey, with Dr. D.
Milligan and his son, bought the entire stock of the
association, surrendered its charter and proceeded to
organize a banking house, which came into being in February,
1874, at Milligan, Godfrey & Company.
The subsequent death of Dr. Milligan caused a
reorganization and business was resumed under the firm style
of Godfrey & Milligan, which continued without
change until 1888. It was then succeeded by the
Commercial Bank Company, the board of directors of this
concern being: Thomas J. Godfrey, Calvin E. Riley, John
Milligan, J. B. Pulskamp, and Ashley M. Riley.
On Jan. 1, 1896, Mr. Godfrey retired from the
Commercial Bank Company, after a long period of honorable
connection.
All public men require relaxation and Mr. Godfrey,
like many others, gave a great deal of attention to
agricultural interest. He owned a valuable farm and
when the perplexities of business, professional and
political life bore heavily upon him, he took refuge in his
country home and found both pleasure and profit in the
developing of what was one of the finest herds of Jersey
cattle to be found in the country.
Thomas J. Godfrey was united in marriage on
Sept. 29, 1859, to Lorinda Milligan, daughter of the
late Dr. D. Milligan, for years a leading capitalist
and prominent citizen of Fort Recovery, Ohio. The one
daughter born to this marriage, Luella, was carefully
reared and liberally educated, being a graduate of the class
of 1881 at Glendale Female College, near Cincinnati.
In 1883, she was married to Rev. J. M. Anderson, who
was the valued pastor of Olivet Presbyterian Church, at
Columbus, Ohio. Rev. and Mrs. Anderson have two
sons; Carl Godfrey and Robert Bruce.
Mrs. Godfrey died Sept. 8, 1898.
Fraternally, Mr. Godfrey was well known
all over the State. He was prominent in Masonry; he was a
member of Shawnee Commandery, K. T., at Lima, Ohio, and had
received the 33d degree. He belonged also to the
Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 271 |
| |
DAVID
GREEN, a leading agriculturist of Gibson township,
whose farm of 137 3/4 acres is located in section 26, was born
May 6, 1859, in Crawford County, Ohio, and is a son of
Frederick and Louisa (Lutz) Green, and a grandson
of Frederick Green, who was a resident of
Crawford County, where he died on the old homestead.
Frederick Green, the father of our subject, was
born in Germany, and came to this country when three years old
with his parents, who settled in Crawford County when the
country was still in a wild and unsettled state. Mr.
Green was reared on his father's farm in Crawford
County and after his marriage lived there until 1876 engaged
in farming. He then moved to Mercer County, Ohio, and
located on the farm now occupied by his son David.
He had purchased a farm of 318 acres in Gibson township prior
to his removal to Mercer County, and it was here he lived
until 1903, when he sold the farm to his son David and retired
from active work. He is now a resident of Fort Recovery.
David Green spent his boyhood days in
Crawford County, and was 17 years old when his father moved to
Mercer County and settled on the farm he now owns. In
1881 Mr. Green bought a farm of 80 acres in
section 26, Gibson township, and after his marriage moved to
this farm, on which he made many improvements in the way of
tiling and buildings, including a fine barn. He sold the
farm in 1903 to John Schmidt and purchased of his
father his present farm, of which he already owned 57-1/2
acres. Mr. Green is engaged in general
farming and also raises considerable stock, such as hogs and
cattle. He also has a fine orchard of five acres, and
raises grapes, plums, peaches, cherries, apples, etc.
On April 10, 1882, Mr. Green was married
to Mary Breymier, a daughter of Michael
Breymier. They had one child, Benjamin,
who lives in Crawford County. Mrs. Green
died in 1887. On September 22, 1887, Mr. Green
was married to Rosa Boltz, a daughter of
Jacob Boltz. They became the parents of
Clarence, Eva and Louisa. Mr.
Green was formerly a member of the Lutheran Church.
His family are members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort
Recovery.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 436 |
| |
GEORGE
GREEN, deceased who in life was one of the prominent
farmers of Butler township, was born Nov. 29, 1851, on the
farm in Section 24, Butler township, which is now occupied
by his widow. The remains of his father and
grandfather, both of whom were named John Green, rest
in the cemetery at Montezuma. His father died on the
homestead in Butler township.
The Green family, which originated in England,
was established in Ohio in the days of the great-grandfather
of our subject. John Green, the grandfather,
came from Hamilton, Ohio, to Mercer County at a very early
day and first entered land in Franklin township, and later
the family home in Butler township, the date of this
transaction being September 4, 1838. The original
deed, bearing the signature of Martin Van Buren
President of the United States, is still in the possession
of the family; the land has always been kept intact, and is
now occupied by the fourth generation.
The parents of the late George Green died when
he was eight years old and his home was with Stephen
Frank at Coldwater, from that age until he was 17 yeas
old, when he went to Illinois and later to Missouri,
subsequently returning to his home in Butler township, when
he was 23 years old. He had two brothers, William
and Hiram, the former of whom died aged 22 years
of consumption. Hiram still survives.
On July 2, 1876, George Green was married to
Catherine Smith, a daughter of Joseph and Caroline
(Frick) Smith the former of whom was born in New Jersey
and the latter in Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith
came to Ohio at an early day and was married in the vicinity
of Dayton. Later he came to Mercer County and settled
on a farm in Butler township, west of Coldwater, and there
Mrs. Green was reared.
Mr. and Mrs. Green had nine children born to
them, as follows: Ira, who married Salome
Cable (first) and Emma Hitchens (second) and has
one daughter - Doris Ollene; Harley George who
married Maude Wade, resides in Butler township and
has one daughter - Thelma Opal; Ibbie
Catherine, who married James Mowery and has two
children - Benjamin Franklin and Vera Pauline;
Blanche Belle; Bessie Hazel; Cassius Ford; Lily Opal,
who died aged five years; Grace Glenna; and
Chester Arthur, who died aged nine months.
Harley George Green enlisted at Toledo, Ohio,
Aug. 7, 1900, in the United States Army, and was sent to
Fort Leavenworth, where he was enrolled as a member of
Company G, First Regiment, U. S. Infantry. On the 25th
of August the regiment left Fort Leavenworth for the
Presidio Barracks, San Francisco, California. On
September 1, 1900, the First Regiment sailed under sealed
orders on the U. S. transport "Logan," arriving at Honolulu,
Hawaiian Island, on the 8th of September, where the members
of the regiment learned that their destination was the
Philippine Island, where they arrived on the 28th of
September. They were then ordered to the island of
Marinduque to force the release of Company F, 29th Regiment,
U. S. Volunteers, which had been captured by the enemy.
On December 1st the First Regiment sailed to the Island of
Samar to relieve the 29th Regiment, U. S., Volunteers,
stationed there and went through the entire campaign of
Samar, from May 22, 1901, to Dec. 25, 1902. The
regiment was relieved by the 14th Regiment, U. S. Infantry,
on the 17th of March, 1903, and sailed for Manila from which
port it sailed to Nagasaki, Japan, and thence to San
Francisco, where the regiment landed Apr. 28, 1903.
Mr. Green was stationed at Fort Wayne, Michigan, until
Aug. 6, 1903, being then discharged on account of the
expiration of his term of service. In the service in
the Philippines he took part in all battles and skirmishes
of the regiment and sustained a most excellent character for
honest and faithful discharge of duty. He was never
wounded. Col. D. W. Dugan was in command of the First
Regiment.
The death of George Green, the subject of this
sketch, occurred on Oct. 20, 1893, thereby removing from
Butler township a very highly esteemed citizen. He was
a kind husband and affectionate father, and possessed many
estimable traits, which made him popular with his
acquaintances. The Green home has always been a
hospitable one.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 278 |
| |
BARNEY
GRIESHOP, a well-known, representative farmer of
Marion township, residing on his fine farm of 160 acres,
situated on the Chickasaw and New Bremen road, was born
March 7, 1848, and is a son of John Henry and Helen (Sheper)
Grieshop.
The parents of Mr. Grieshop came to America in
the fall of 1847, and in the following spring bought the
farm on which our subject now resides. They had the
following children: Mrs. Catherine B. Wilkie; Mrs.
Elizabeth Borhorst; Henry, a resident of Marion
township, who married Mary Anna Hinders; and
Barney who was the only one of the family born in
America. The mother of our subject died in 1849 during
the prevalence of the cholera epidemic. The father was
subsequently married several times and died in 1888.
He was one of the pioneers of Marion township and worked
hard for many years.
Barney Grieshop was raised a farmer and has
always followed agricultural pursuits, with very successful
results. He purchased the homestead farm from his
father prior to the latter's death in 1888, and here he has
re-sided ever since. His farm is well located, has
good improvements and would command a high price if put
upon the market. In 1873 in partnership with his
brother Henry, he engaged in making brick, which
business was continued for a period, their large farming and
stock-raising interests not being neglected in the meantime.
On November, 22, 1874, Mr. Grieshop was married
to Mary Rutschlling, a daughter of Henry and Mary
Rutschlling, who were natives of Germany. Mrs.
Grieshop was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, in
September, 1854, and died in November, 1899. Her
father died in October, 1898, and her mother, December 30,
1905. Her brothers and sisters were: John, Henry,
Elizabeth, Delia, Richard, August, Joseph and
Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Grieshop had eight
children, namely: Henry, who married Minnie
Morthorst; Anna M., who married Jacob A. Froning;
Helena, the wife of Dr. H. G. Rawers, of
Chickasaw; Julius; Elizabeth; Louise; Catherine P.
and Dora Ann. Mr. Grieshop is one of the valued
members of St. John's Catholic Church.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 684 |
| |
HENRY GRIESHOP,
one of the most highly respected citizens of Marion
township, who owns a well-improved farm of 255 acres, enjoys
the distinction of being the oldest continuous residents of
the township, to which he came in childhood. Mr.
Grieshop was born in Oldenburg, Germany, Oct. 22, 1839,
and is a son of John Henry and Helena (Shipler)
Grieshop.
The Grieshop family came to America in 1845 and
lived one year at Minster, Ohio, and then settled on a farm
the father bought in Marion township, Mercer County.
Our subject recalls the day, for he was permitted to fish
from the bank of the stream traversing the property,
probably the first fishing he had ever had, and he had the
pleasure of catching some catfish, which must have appeared
pretty large to him. During the second year on the
farm, the mother died. There were four children,
namely: Mrs. Catherine B. Wilkie; Mrs. Elizabeth
Barhorst; Henry; and Barney, the last named, who
is a resident of Marion township, being the only one of the
four born in America. The father subsequently married
Lena Brenemeyer, of Cincinnati. After her death he
married Mrs. Holtman, a widow with four children, and
after her death took as his wife Mary Ann Froning.
He died on our subject's farm, in 1888.
Henry Grieshop was reared amid pioneer conditions
and had few opportunities to go to school. He can
remember that when his father came to Marion township, a
path had to be blazed through the woods. Wild turkeys
could be shot any day and the deer were so plentiful and to
tame that they would come to the horse through in his
father's barnyard to slake their thirst and often had to be
driven away before the cattle could be watered. It
took many years of hard work to change the forest into a
productive farm. Other settlers penetrated the same
wilderness; roads were finally built by a combination of
industry; schools, churches, good houses and barns followed;
and now the rural mail route and the telephone link even
remote regions with the oldest and most civilized.
Mr. Grieshop has devoted his energies mainly to
farming, but he has been a man of progressive ideas and much
enterprise and has been able to see a chance to increase his
fortunes in several other ways. During the Civil War
he bought horses for the government, a necessary and
legitimate business. Later he entered into the cattle
business and success crowned his efforts in that line.
At one time, in partnership with his brother, he ran a
brickyard. Since 1875 he has devoted himself to
agricultural pursuits, purchasing his farm in that year from
Philip Smith. When he settled on it he found an
old brewery standing here, which he tore down and near its
site he erected his handsome, brick, eight-room
residence and also built his substantial barns and other
buildings. He has his land enclosed with a hedge fence
and his surroundings show excellent management and a large
measure of thrift. The turnpike which forms the
southern boundary of his property was formerly an old plank
toll-road.
Mr. Grieshop was married in 1863 to Mary Anna
Hinders, a daughter of Dietrich Hinders, who was
a contractor on the canal. They have had 12 children,
namely: Catherine, who married Henry
Schwietermann; John, who married Anna Luthman; Lena,
widow of Joseph Windt; Barney, who married Mary
Meinerding; Rosa, who married Joseph Meinerding;
Louis who married Mary Link; Frank, who married
(first) Roe Steinke and (second) Kate Roeckner
- his daughter Janetta, by his first wife, lives with
her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Grieshop; Augustus,
who is in the hardware business at Chickasaw; William,
Clara and Adaline, living at home; and
Benjamin, who died in infancy.
Mrs. Grieshop was born in Marion township,
Mercer County, Ohio, Feb. 27, 1848, her parents having
settled here at an early day. Her brothers and sisters
were: Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary, Gerhardt and
John, all deceased, the survivors being Richard,
William and Margaret.
Mr. Grieshop is one of the leading members of the
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church at Chickasaw. He
belongs also to St. Joseph's Society. He can recall
many very interesting events of the township's early days.
One of these is a description of the manner in which the
first negroes were treated, when the country was settled.
He tells how men were organized to drive them away, meeting
the blacks with clubs, pitchforks and even guns. In
those days popular sentiment was shown in a very primitive
way and at this time Mercer County has no very large
contingent of negroes.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 687 |
| |
GEORGE F. GRIFFIN (PORTRAITS AVAILABLE)
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 531 |
| |
ANTHONY
B. GROTHJAN, sheriff of Mercer County, is one of the
leading business men of Celina, the proprietor of an
extensive carriage and buggy manufacturing concern, which
stands as one of the old and reliable houses of this city.
Mr. Grothjan was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, Sept.
12, 1859, and is a son of John and Agnes (Vogelpole)
Grothjan.
Anthony B. Grothjan was reared in his native county
and obtained a common-school education. His father was
a farmer but his own inclinations led him to learn
blacksmithing and he completed his apprenticeship to that
trade and to the carriage-making trade, in 1875. In
1878 he settled in Mercer County and entered the employ of
William Cron, with which manufacturer of wagons and
carriages he remained seven years, at the expiration of
which time Mr. Grothjan formed a partnership with
John Heim, under the firm name of Grothjan & Hein,
for the carrying on of a general blacksmithing and
carriage-building business. The firm did an extensive
business in the line above mentioned for a period covering
17 years, at the close of which period Mr. Grothjan
bought Mr. Hein's interest and has continued alone
until the present. He gives employment to six
competent workmen.
Mr. Grothjan was married to Rose Leifeld,
who is a daughter of William Leifeld, of Celina, and
they have a family of six children: Agnes, Jerome,
Eulalia, Lucile, Harold and Cletus. Mr.
Grothjan is a consistent member of the Catholic Church.
Politically Mr. Grothjan has always been a sound
Democrat, and has been highly regarded by his party.
He is well known all over the county as a man of business
integrity and personal honor, and his election in November,
1906, to his present office was a pubic recognition of the
same.
Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton,
Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.,
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 398 |
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