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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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W. P.
PALMER, one of the well-known business men of Celina,
who has been in the grain business in Mercer County for the
past 11 years, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1869, and
is a son of B. H. Palmer, who is engaged in the grain
business at Ashland, Ashland, County.
W. T. Palmer was reared in Wayne County and was
educated in the schools there. He has been literally
brought up in the grain business, as his father has been
identified with it for some 40 years and his business
experience lies largely in this direction. In1894 he
opened up a grain business at Rockford, Mercer County, where
he remained for six years, since when he has been operating
at Celina. As a business man he stands very high and
is connected with many of the important and successful
business enterprises of this section. He is a
stockholder and a director in the Citizens' Banking Company,
of Celina; a stockholder and director in the Berne Grain &
Hay Company, of Berne, Indiana; a stockholder and director
in the Exline Lithographic Company, of Cleveland,
Ohio; and a stockholder in the Rockford telephone and
Electric light companies.
In 1896 Mr. Palmer was married to Mary Exline,
of Van Wert, Ohio, and they have two child - Vellone
Exline Palmer and Eugene H. Palmer. Mr. and
Mrs. Palmer are members of St. Paul's Methodist
Episcopal Church of Celina, and he is superintendent of the
Sunday-school. Fraternally he belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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 357 |
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WILLIAM FREDERICK PAUSCH, merchant, dealer in
groceries and queensware, at Fort Recovery, was born at St.
Marys, Ohio, Dec. 20, 1857, and is a son of Fred
Christian and Caroline (Ankerman) Pausch.
Fred Christian Pausch, father of our subject,
came in early manhood to America, landing at New Orleans in
1854. He was a native of Germany and had learned the
milling trade in his own land. From New Orleans the
youth went to Cincinnati, where he transferred from the big
river steamer to the packet boat on the canal, on which he
reached New Bremen, in Auglaize County. He remained
there about two years, working in a flour mill, and then
moved to St. Mary's and was employed in the mills in the
vicinity for 20 years. He then returned to New Bremen
and worked in the mills there for six years. He then
returned to New Bremen and worked in the mills there for six
years. When the railroad was built through Fort
Recovery, in 1879, Mr. Pausch was one to quickly
recognize the fact that this place was destined to be a town
of some importance, hence he located here, buying a mill in
partnership with Abraham Rantz. The business
was run under the firm name of Pausch, Rantz &
Company and the partnership continued until Mr. Pausch's
death, of typhoid fever, on Sept. 17, 1893. His widow
still survives.
The eight children of Fred Christian Pausch and
wife were: William Frederick, Laura, who died in
childhood; Edward J., who married Minnie Reedy
and lives at Piqua, Ohio; Henry, who died in 1886 in
young manhood; Anna, who married George Reedy
and lives at Piqua; Louie and Frank, deceased
in infancy; and Theodore, who married Ethel
Thompson and lives at Detroit, Michigan.
William Frederick Pausch started to work for his
father in youth; worked in a mill at New Bremen for six
years, at Cincinnati for one year, and at Minster, Ohio, for
two years and nine months. From 1882 until 1886 he
worked for Higby & Company, at Belleview, Ohio.
In the latter year he came to Fort Recovery, where his
father and two brothers, Henry and Edward, had
conducted a store for one year, but the death of Henry
made a vacancy, which William Frederick filled.
In 1901 he bought his brother Edward's interest, the
latter going to Piqua. Our subject has continued to
operate the business ever since and is one of the village's
substantial, representative citizens.
He has invested in property and owns a nice place on Main
street, which he bought in 1893, remodeling and modernizing
the 10-room house.
In 1883 Mr. Pausch was married to Elizabeth
Rabe, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Myers) Rabe,
natives of Germany, the latter coming to America when 16
years old. Mr. and Pausch have two children,
namely: Rolla, born Mar. 17, 1884; and Helen,
born July 3, 1891. The mother of Mrs. Pausch
resides with her daughter, the father having died at New
Bremen, where Mrs. Pausch was born May 14, 1861.
She has two married (first) Catherine Wiemyer, and
(second) Ida Trautwine; and Henry, of St.
Marys, Ohio, who married Catherine Limbacher.
Mr. Pausch has always taken an active interest in
public affairs. He served for eight years as a member
of the Village Council of Fort Recovery, and is now a member
of the Board of Public Affairs. He belongs to Pisbgah
Congregational Church. Fraternally, he is a
member of the Eagles.
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 671 |
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JOSEPH
PAX, one of Mercer County's progressive farmers,
residing on a well-improved tract of 120 acres in Jefferson
township, situated in section 11, township 6 south, range 2
east, was born in Germany, Nov. 11, 1861, and is a son of
John and Josephine (Ast) Pax.
John Pas and family came to America when Joseph
was five years old and located in Franklin County,
Indiana. There were six children in the parental
family, as follows: Joseph; John; George; Mary,
deceased; Mrs. Lena Hartman; and Anna, who is
the wife of Pius Pfister. Prior to his
death, in 1896, John Pax sold his farm and went to
live with his son, Joseph.
Joseph Pax was reared and educated in Franklin
County, Indiana. After his marriage he moved to
Cincinnati and spent the following 10 years in Hamilton
County. He then purchased a farm in Jefferson
township, Mercer County, where he has since resided.
He has made many improvements on the farm since he came
here, one being the building of a 10 room frame house, in
1904.
Mr. Pax was married in 1887 to Louise
Wilhelm and they have reared a family of 10 children,
namely: Jacob, Anthony, Cecilia, Elma, Leo, Lena, Emma,
Oscar and Walter (twins) and Albert. Mr.
Pax and his family are members of the 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 599 |
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JAMES
PEARSON, one of Washington township's prosperous
agriculturists, owns 56 acres of highly cultivated farm land,
22˝ acres being located in
section 4, and 32˝ acres
in section 9, Washington township. He was born in East
Bradford township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, March 4,
1844, and is a son of James and Sarah (Wagonseller)
Pearson.
James Pearson, father of our subject, was
of Welsh descent and was a blacksmith by trade, having learned
the trade from his father, William Pearson, who
was a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania. James
Pearson, as well as his father, died in Chester County.
James Pearson, our subject, was reared in
Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 20 years
of age, when he went to Philadelphia and worked at his trade,
being a shoemaker. In 1865 he went to Illinois where he worked
at his trade for about three years, after which he removed to
Wabash County, Indiana, and followed his trade. During his
residence in Wabash County, he made a trip to Washington
township, Mercer County, Ohio, leaving on September 21, 1869,
and while in Washington township was married to Lavina
Bastian, a daughter of George Bastian. He
moved to Mercer County in 1876, locating in Washington
township, where he has since lived, engaged in general
farming. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have had
eight children, as follows: Minnie, who married
Elmer Day and has three children; Maggie,
wife of W. J. Boley; Homer, who married Daisy
Edmiston; Lee C.; Lizzie, who teaches school in
Liberty township; Luella; Edith and Ivy.
Mr. Pearson is at present clerk of the
School Board of Washington township. In 1894 he retired from
the office of justice of the peace, after having .served 15
years.
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 626 |
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LEWIS PLATT,
one of the representative farmers of Butler Township, who
resides on his valuable farm of 80 acres, situated in
section 16, was born in Germany, May 4, 1839, and is a son
of Conrad and Mary Magdalen (Steinmiller) Platt.
The father of Mr. Platt died in Germany, when
our subject was a child of four years. The mother
struggled on as best she could for the next four years.
The mother struggled on as best she could for the next four
years and then decided to emigrate to America where her boys
could find better opportunities than in the old country.
with her six children she landed in Mercer County, Ohio, in
August, 1847, and remained for a time in Butler township.
the mother then married Peter Gehron, a weaver by
trade, who took the family to Montezuma, and in and around
that village our subject was reared and educated. He
also learned the carpenter's trade and was prepared to work
at the same when the Civil War came upon the land. On
Oct. 16, 1861, Mr. Platt enlisted in Company A, 71st
Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., which was forming at Celina, and
shortly afterward was promoted to the rank of corporal at
Gallatin, Tennessee, on Dec. 1, 1863, won his commission as
sergeant. he participated in many of the most
important battles of the cruel war and saw much of its
hardship. At the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg
Landing, he was captured by the enemy and was confined at
Memphis, Tennessee, taken from there to Mobile and Cahaba,
Alabama, and thence to Macon, Georgia, where he was paroled.
He then started for home but was stopped by Union troops at
Nashville, who wished to detain him as a guard and it was
with difficulty that he escaped this duty, accomplishing it
only by desperately "bolting' through the guards and
boarding the transport steamer "General Grant." The
paroled men were again stopped at Louisville, Kentucky, but
at Cincinnati received transportation to their homes.
As the war still continued, Mr. Platt concluded to
reenlist, which he did, at Gallatin, Tennessee, on Jan. 13,
1865. He remained in the service until his honorable
discharge at Camp Dennison, June 13, 1865. Mr.
Platt will always carry the marks of his loyal devotion
to his adopted country. At the battle of Nashville,
Tennessee, on Dec. 16, 1864, he lost the use of his right
eye and was otherwise seriously injured, so that he was
confined in Brown's Hospital, at Nashville, and later at
Camp Dennison, Cincinnati.
After regaining his health, Mr. Platt resumed
work at his trade and then settled down to farming.
Before the war he had bought 40 acres and completed paying
for it while he was in the army; he purchased the other 40
acres in 1865, just after the close of the war. This
beautiful property has all been cleared and improved by
Mr. Platt himself. He has substantial buildings of
all kinds here, has excellent, modern machinery and owns
considerable stock, all of his property having been
accumulated by his own honest toil. In the meantime he
has reared a family in comfort and has given his
children superior educational advantages.
On Dec. 5, 1867, Mr. Platt was united in
marriage with Brittana Frank, a daughter of Joseph
Frank, and they have had 10 children, as follows:
Fidella, born Aug. 17, 1868, who married John
Koons, and died May 9, 1894, leaving one child, Floyd
Edward, who lives with his grandfather; Mary
Elizabeth, who lives at home; Sarah Lena, also
living at home, who is a graduate of the Ohio Normal
University at Ada, and of schools at Hartsville and
Huntington, Indiana, has been a popular teacher in Mercer
County and is now studying for the ministry of the Radical
United Brethren Church at Huntington, Indiana, class of
1907; Zerilda, born Nov. 21, 1873, who died Oct. 24,
1895; Pearly, who married Rev. William Kindel,
of the United Brethren Church, at Delphos, Ohio, and had one
child that died in infancy; Eva, who died in infancy;
Melissa, who resides at home; George A.; and
Carrie and Belle, both of whom are at home.
Mr. Platt's only son, George A. Platt, was
born Aug. 17, 1881, and from boyhood, as a student in the
district schools, showed unusual aptness in his studies.
After completing the ordinary course he taught school for
three years, beginning when 18 years old, and then entered
Oberlin College, where he was most creditably graduated, May
3, 1904. He next went to Columbus and took a special
course in penmanship at the Zanerian College and then for a
period of nine months, in 1905, he taught penmanship and
bookkeeping in the Elwood (Indiana) High School. He is
now in the clothing business at South Bend, Indiana.
Mr. Platt is one of the leading members of the
Radical United Brethren Church and is one of the trustees.
He is a man of sterling character and enjoys the respect and
esteem of his fellow-citizens. Portraits of Mr. and
Mrs. Platt accompany this sketch.
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 699 |
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JOSEPH
PLEIMAN, who died May 31, 1896, on his valuable farm
of 95 acres, located in section 4, Butler township, was born
at Philothea, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1848.
Mr. Pleiman was married in 1883, in Butler
township, to Theresa Zumberge, a daughter of Henry
and Kate Zumberge, who died in Germany. Mrs.
Pleiman was born and reared in Germany and when 21 years
old came to America. She lived first in Minster,
Auglaize County, but since her marriage has resided on the
farm which she was capably managed since her husband's
death, and to which she has added 18 acres, making 113 acres
in all. Mrs. Pleiman had six children, namely:
Josephine, who married Joseph Ullerman and has
two children, Rosella and Annie; Joseph; George;
Frances; and Rosa and John, who died in
infancy. The family belong to St. Mary's Catholic
Church at Pilothea.
Mr. Pleiman was a widower with four children at
the time of his marriage to Theresa Zumberge.
The children by his first marriage were as follows:
Mary who married Henry Neiberding; Katie, who
married Charles Stukenborg; Elizabeth, who married
Henry Renz; and Anna, deceased, who was the wife
of Henry Shearer.
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 561 |
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JOHN
POWELL, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of
Washington township, residing in section 10, owns 111 acres
of fine land in sections 10 and 11, Washington township, and
80 acres in section 27, Liberty township. Mr.
Powell was born in Butler County, Ohio, Jan. 24,
1836, and is a son of John and Barbara (Shafer) Powell.
John Powell, our subject's father, was born near
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and did not come to Ohio until
after his marriage, where he resided until 1852, when he
removed to Washington township, Mercer County, where he
bought 320 acres. It was mainly wild land which he
cleared with the assistance of his sons. Of his eight
children, John, the sixth in order of birth, and
Mrs. Amanda Sarber, of Butler County, the youngest
daughter, are the sole survivors. The others were:
Mrs. Luch Hillergass, who died near Fort Wayne, Indiana;
Mrs. Susan Bitner, who died in Wood County, Ohio;
Samuel, who was well known farmer of Washington
township; Mrs. Catherine Moore, who resided in Butler
County; and Sarah and David, who died in
Washington township.
John Powell's school days were passed in Butler
County, as he was about 15 years old when he accompanied his
father to Mercer County. He assisted on the home farm
until he was 22 years of age and them engaged in farming in
Illinois for about seven years. Since then he has
resided in Washington township. A part of his present
farm is a portion of the old home farm which his father
bought in 1852. In addition to carrying on general
agriculture, Mr. Powell has given especial attention
to the raising of thoroughbred cattle and sheep and
the best strain of horses. His Shropshire sheep and
Polled Durham cattle have taken many prizes.
In 1868 Mr. Powell was married (first) to
Fannie Jenkins, and (second), in 1871, to Maggie
Wiles, both of whom are deceased. In 1875 Mr.
Powell was married (third) to Emeline Kutsch, a
daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Conrad) Kutsch.
Mr. Kutsch, came from Germany to America when a young
man and was married to Catherine Conrad, in Liberty
township, Mercer County. He died in 1867, but his
widow survives and lives in Jay County, Indiana. Their
children were: Jacob, deceased; Emeline;
Katie and Sophia (twins), the former of whom is
the wife of Caleb Wilson and the latter the widow of
Frank Oliver; and Angeline, who died in
childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Powell have had six children, the
survivors being Katie, who married John
Minchoffer, resides in Washington township and has two
children - Beatrice and John Cletus; Pearl,
who married John Smith and has one child, Naomi;
Benjamin Franklin, who married Ivy Wright and has
two children, Delilah and Mabel; and
Stephen Grover Cleveland and Leona, who are at
home. One daughter, Maggie, died aged four
years. Politically Mr. Powell is a Democrat.
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 652 |
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BENJAMIN PRESTON,
whose fine farm of 121 acres is situated in section 22,
Franklin township, is one of the representative
agriculturists of this part of the county. Mr.
Preston was born on the old Preston farm
in Franklin township, Mercer County, Ohio, June 9, 1848, and
is a son of Isaac and Susan (Hoel) Preston.
Isaac Preston was born in Hamilton
County, Ohio, and was a son of William Preston,
who was of Scotch-Irish parentage. William
Preston was a blacksmith by trade, but subsequently
turned his attention to farming on account of failing
eyesight, and became the owner of 700 acres of land in,
Mercer County. He reared nine children, namely:
Isaac, Demaris, Sarah Jane, Margaret,
Cynthia, James, Benjamin, William
and Ferman, all of whom are deceased with the
exception of Sarah Jane, who is the wife of
Thomas Green and resides in Shelby County.
Isaac Preston was reared in Hamilton
County and there married Susan Hoel. They moved
to Mercer County and bought a farm in Franklin township on
which they lived for many years before removing to Missouri,
where Mr. Preston died at the age of 71 years.
His widow still resides in Missouri. They had the
following children: Sarah Frances, who married
George Circle and lives in Bates County,
Missouri; Benjamin; Samuel, who married
Sarah Long and lives in Bates County, Missouri;
Caroline, who died aged 14 years; George, who
married Jane Swartz and lives at Montezuma;
and William, who married Ella Brown and
lives at Dayton, Ohio.
Benjamin Preston was reared in Franklin
township and was educated in the country schools. His
whole life has been devoted to farming and naturally he
thoroughly understands all the various subjects which it is
necessary for a successful agriculturist to comprehend.
A part of his land was left to his wife by her father and
the rest of it was purchased by Mr. Preston.
He raises wheat, corn, oats and hay and some stock. At
one time oil was found on his farm and a well was drilled,
but it is not now in operation.
On October 30, 1871, Mr. Preston was
married to Cassandra Ann Brown, a daughter of
Thomas and Lydia (Meeks) Brown, of Clermont County,
Ohio. Mrs. Preston died December 8,
1901. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and was
a consistent member of the United Brethren Church. Mr.
Preston and wife had seven children, the first three
dying in infancy. The others are: William
Wayne, born April 21, 1873, who was married October 11,
1896, to Leota Watson, daughter of John
and Roxanna (Aldridge) Watson,
has two children, Bernice and Charles
Victor, and resides in Franklin township; Harry F.,
who was married May 27, 1899, to Caddie Carter,
daughter of Jacob and Diana (Gray) Carter, has had
three children—Frances Willard (deceased);
Leonard Dale and Alta—and lives in
Franklin township; Justice Park, an oil
driller in Indiana, who married (first) Emma Ellis,
and (second) Nella O’Brien, daughter of
Henry O’Brien; and Lyman Ward, a worker in
the oil fields and a resident of Franklin township, who
married Plezzie Colston, daughter of Joseph
Colston, and has one child, Elma.
In his younger years Mr. Preston took
considerable interest in township affairs and served several
years on the School Board and two terms as assessor.
He is a leading member of the United Brethren 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 347 |
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HERMAN
PULSKAMP, a prosperous business man of Celina, a leader
in the furniture line, has been established here since 1889.
He was born in 1859, at Cincinnati, and is a son of the late
Hon. H. H. Pulskamp.
Hon. H. H. Pulskamp was long a prominent citizen
of Mercer County. He was born in Germany, emigrated to the
United States and worked for a number of years as a wagonmaker
at Cincinnati and at St. Johns, Mercer County. He served
through two terms as county treasurer and two terms as probate
judge of Mercer County. He died in 1892. His wife, Mary
Schafer, who was also of German extraction, died in
1886. Their surviving children are: Catherine, wife of
Henry Goecke, of St. Johns; Herman, of
this sketch; Henry, a hardware merchant at Celina;
John, cashier of the Commercial Bank of Celina; Bernard,
a physician; George, editor of the Bote, a German
newspaper at Celina; and Edward, who lives at St.
Bernards, a suburb of Cincinnati. Four children died in
infancy.
Herman Pulskamp learned the
carriage-making trade at Celina, after completing his
education, and worked at his trade for about 13 years and then
engaged in the furniture business. To this he has added
undertaking and the business is carried on under the firm name
of H. & J. Pulskamp.
In September, 1881, Mr. Pulskamp was
married to Catherine Hein, a daughter of
Henry Hein, and they have four children, viz.:
Fred, Clara, Nora and Ada. With his
family, Mr. Pulskamp belongs to the Catholic
Church. He is also a member of St. Joseph's Society and the
Catholic Knights of Ohio. Among his fellow citizens he stands
as an honorable business man, who for the past 15 years has
carried on business with methods which have won him the
respect and confidence of all and the esteem and friendship of
a large number.
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 746 |
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FRANK
PUTHOFF, a representative agriculturist of Jefferson
township, resides upon his farm of 120 acres, favorably
situated in section 3, township 6 south, range 2 east, where
he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He
was born in Marion township, Mercer county, Ohio, Feb. 26,
1844, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Long) Puthoff.
Henry Puthoff was born in Germany and spent his
earlier life there. After the death of his father, he
came to Mercer County, Ohio, with two brothers, and later
sent for his mother who had remained in Germany. She
lived many years after joining her children and died at the
age of 84 years. Henry Puthoff died in 1873.
Frank Puthoff was reared in Marion township and
attended the neighboring schools. On Oct. 4, 1864, he
was married to Catherine Brandywine, a native of
Auglaize County, Ohio, who is a daughter of Herman Henry
and Caroline (Johns) Brandywine, the former of whom was
born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Puthoff have had
10 children, namely: John, who married Mary
Knapke, and has four children; Elizabeth, who
married Michale Reusch and died June 5, 1897;
Katie, who married George Ineichen, lives in
Indiana and has five children; Benjamin, who married
Coletta Wourms, in October, 1905; Mary, who
married Thomas Durbin and has three children:
Henry, who married Mary McGill, Oct. 10, 1905,
and lives in Colorado; Jacob, who married
Magdalena Buehler, in February, 1906; and Andrew,
Joseph and Caroline, all living at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Puthoff lived for
nine years in Auglaize County with his father-in-law, and
then bought 80 acres of his present farm. The family
continued to live in a log cabin until 1881, although Mr.
Puthoff kept continually improving his land.
The cabin still stands on the place. In 1881 he
erected the present commodious and comfortable frame
residence. Mr. Puthoff served his school
district for 15 years as director and took a general of
interest in advancing the usefulness of the schools.
He is a worthy member of the Catholic Church at Celina.
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 600 |
NOTES:
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