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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	MRS. HENRIETTA VARWIG, a respected and esteemed resident of Jefferson township, lives on her well-improved farm of 164 acres, located in section 7.  She is the widow of the late Dietrich Richard Varwig, who was a very highly considered farmer of this township.  Mrs. Varwig was born April 22, 1849, in Hanover, Germany, and is a daughter of Frank and Katrina (Varwig) Wanker.      The parents of Mrs. Varwig emigrated to America in 1854, when she was a child of five years.  They settled at New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, where they remained a year and a half.  In the old country, the father had worked in a salt factory, but the wages had been too small to permit of his accumulating much capital, and Mrs. Varwig has heard her mother say that when the little family reached New Bremen the sum of 15 cents was their sole capital!  They found there good, kind, German hearts, however, and Mr. Wanker found employment in a pork packing establishment until he could select a piece of land on which to found a home.  This proved to be a tract of 40 acres in the woods in Shelby County, and the family took up its residence in a little, old log cabin.  There they remained for four years, undergoing many hardships.  The father was only able to get 10 of his 40 acres cleared in the four years he lived on the place, and then found a chance to sell out.  He bought the farm for $400, and sold it for $925.  He then purchased a farm in Washington township, Mercer County, for which he paid $1,000.  It is very interesting to thus trace the prosperity of some of the old families and see how industry and economy are rewarded.      Mrs. Varwig was reared by a good mother and taught all the thrifty ways for which the German housewives are noted.  When she was 21 years of age, she was married (first) to John Maier, who had also been born in Germany.  Mr. Maier died on January 26, 1885.  They had seven children, the two who still live being: William, who owns a farm of 100 acres; and Mrs. Mena Getz, who has these children—Lizzie, Minnie, Annie, John and Henry.  Mr. Maier left a farm of 146 acres to his family.      On January 12, 1886, Mrs. Maier was united in marriage with Dietrich Richard Varwig.  Mr. Varwig was born May 27, 1858, in Kirchspiel Disson, Amt Iburg, Hanover, Germany, and came to America in 1880.  He joined an uncle who lived in Washington township, Mercer County, where he worked one year and later worked for Fritz Rabe and Valentine Fortman, in the same neighborhood.  From the latter’s farm he went to a suburb of Chicago, where he worked on a railroad as a section foreman.  On November 11, 1885, he came back to Mercer County and entered the employ of Mrs. Maier, the lady he subsequently married.  Five children were born to them, three of whom, two sons and a daughter, are deceased.  The surviving children are Ida and Fritz.  He was also survived by sisters and brothers, namely:  Mrs. Barthold, of Chicago; Mrs. Bernard Niehaus and Mrs. Fritz Brune, of Celina; Christian, of Dayton, Ohio ; and Heinrich, of Cincinnati.      In 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Varwig bought the present farm which was then all timber-land.  They worked hard, cleared it and made a very fine property of it.  In 1900 they built the substantial red barn, at a cost of $1,000 and a granary that cost $300, and in 1903 erected the handsome frame residence at a cost of $1,300.  It is one of the most comfortable homes in this part of the township.  Mr. Varwig did not live very long to enjoy its possession, a sad accident occurring to him on February 27, 1903, which caused his death 12 hours later.  Briefly stated, the disaster was as follows: While assisting in repairing his wind pump, a heavy block of wood fell from the scaffolding above, striking him on the head and rendering him unconscious.  His faithful  wife, who was standing near, ran to his assistance and in a very short time had him in a carriage, conveying him to Celina to see a physician.  The painful operation of sewing up the wound in his head greatly exhausted him, and after reaching home and being tenderly cared for he passed into sleep and never awakened again on earth.      Mr. Varwig was a most excellent man, a hard worker, a kind husband and father and an accommodating neighbor.  He was respected by all who knew him. He was a worthy member of the Lutheran Church, to which religious body Mrs. Varwig also belongs. 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  419
	MICHAEL VELTEN, who has been a resident of Mercer County for the past 16 years and is engaged in the harness and hardware business at Fort Recovery, was born in Rheinpfalz Byn, Germany, Jan. 10, 1872, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Welthelm) Velten, who were natives of Germany and lived there all their lives.  Jacob and Catherine Velten were the parents of five children, namely: Catherine, wife of Carl Miller; Michael; Peter, who married Philomena Stuby; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Heinrich; and Nicholas, who married Alvira Riser.  Nicholas and Michael, our subject, are the only members of the family to come to America.  Jacob Velten, who was engaged in farming, was also a weaver and died in 1887 at the age of 54 years.  His wife died Jan. 8, 1904, aged 62 years.      Michael Velten was reared in Germany, receiving a common-school education, and was an assistant to his teacher at one time, when he had 103 children in charge.  After leaving school, he worked for some time in a stone quarry and when 17 years of age came to America, where he worked for two years on a farm for his uncle, Fred. Schlachter, at Loramies, Shelby County, Ohio.  He subsequently went to Minster, Auglaize County, and worked two years for Theodore Vanderbrook, learning the harness maker’s trade.  He then removed to Fort Recovery and worked at his trade for two years under J. F. Cull, after which he took a trip through the United States, visiting New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and New Jersey, after which he returned to Fort Recovery.  He then worked at his trade in Cincinnati for nine months.  In 1896 he bought out his old employer, J. F. Cull, and engaged in the harness business at Fort Recovery, in which business he has since continued, having added hardware and tinware lines.      Mr. Velten was married Oct. 8, 1896, to Rose Vogel, who was born at Utica, New York, Mar. 25, 1874, and is a daughter of Henry and Maria (Beck) Vogel, who were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, France, now a part of Germany.  Mr. Vogel, who was a soldier in the French Army for 14 years, came to America in 1873, and settled at Utica, New York, subsequently locating on a farm near Gibsonburg, Sanducky County, Ohio.  He afterward located on a farm in Mercer County, near Coldwater, where he resided until 1906, when he sold the property and now lives in retirement at Coldwater.  Eight children were born to Henry Vogel and wife, namely: Rose, wife of our subject; Peter, who lives at Toledo; Mary, who married Edward Rohrkemper, of Hamilton, Ohio; Henry, who married Mary Shandorf and resides at Helena, Ohio; Jacob, who married Elizabeth Spoltman and lives near Helena, Ohio, on a farm; Leonard, unmarried, who is serving in the United States Army, being stationed in the Philippines; and John and Joseph, who live at home.  Mr. and Mrs. Velten have had four children: Alvira, Victor, Edmond and William.      In June, 1906, Mr. Velten took a trip to the old country, both for his health and pleasure, making a 10-weeks’ visit in Germany and France, returning to business on August 11th.  He is a Democrat politically and has served as a member of the Village Council and in various township offices.  He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church of Mary, Help of Christians, at 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 666
	SAMUEL J. VINING 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 560
	EDWARD VOKE, one of the representative and successful business men of Mendon, cashier of the Mendon Bank, was born Oct. 31, 1869, at Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio, and is a son of Edward Lewis and Theresa (Farwell) Voke.      Edward Voke, the paternal great-grandfather, came to America soon after his son Edward, with whom he made his home until his death in 1873.  This branch of the Voke family can be traced as far back as the year 1720.      Edward Voke, the paternal grandfather, was born in Portsmouth, England, in 1810, and came to the United States in 1831.  He first located at Rochester, New York, where he clerked in a general store for a time and then moved to Niagara County, where he purchased a farm and engaged in general farming for 30 years.  When he retired from farm life, he moved to Spencerport, New York, where he remained until the time of his death in 1900, at the advanced age of 90 years.  He was the father of three children: Edward L.  Mary Jane, who married John Strong and is a resident of Spencerport, New York; and Laura, deceased.      Edward L. Voke was a native of Hartland, Genesee County, New York, and was born Dec. 21, 1833, and died Jan. 17, 1898.  He moved to Mercer County, Ohio, in 1880 and located at Shane’s Crossing (now Rockford), where he remained two years and later moved to a farm in Dublin township where he resided until his death.  He married Theresa Farwell, who was born July 26, 1844, in Genesee County, New York, and is at present a resident of Columbus, Ohio.  Four children were born to them, as follows: Lewis F., who is a practicing physician at Columbus; Edward; and Mabel and Cora, who reside with their mother.  Mr. and Mrs. Voke were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.      Edward Voke was reared in his native township and attended the Rockford High School, completing the course when 19 years old.  He then taught school for three years, one year in Dublin township and two years at Rockford.  Mr. Voke was then engaged in farming until 1902 when he moved to Mendon and organized the Mendon Bank, with a capital stock of $10,000, of which Lewis F. Voke is president and Edward Voke is cashier.  The Mendon Bank is one of the successful financial institutions of Mercer County, has a strong patronage, and handles practically all of the business of the northeastern section of the county.  It opened for business Feb. 4, 1902.  The Bank is situated in a very attractive building which was erected in 1901.  Mr. Voke has other business interests, owning with his brother a three-fourths interest in an elevator at Monticello, Ohio, under the firm name of Voke Brothers & Clay.  The firm was organized in 1903 and the elevator was constructed the same year.  Mr. Voke is recognized as one of the leading and successful business men of Mercer County.      Mr. Voke was married June 24, 1894, to Elta Sidenbender, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Sidenbender, of Rockford, Mercer County.  She was born in Mercer County.  Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Voke: Myron Van, Albert F., Mary and Carl.  Mr. Voke is a member of the Mendon Lodge, No. 586, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias lodges at Mendon.  Politically, he 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 649

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