(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 650 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY 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 December 21, 1833, and died January 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 February 4, 1902. The Bank is situated in a very attractive building which was erected in 1901. Mr. Coke 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. REV. SAMUEL EGGER REV. SAMUEL EGGER is the beloved pastor of St. Paul's German Evangelical Church, which is situated in Liberty township, near Chattanooga. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, March 11, 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Magdalena (Christman) Egger. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 651 The parents of Mr. Egger were early settlers in Monroe County, where they were well known. The father, who was a native of New Jersey, had enjoyed educational advantages in the East. Samuel Egger secured his primary education in the public schools of Monroe County. After, deciding to enter upon a life of religious work, he entered the Elmhurst Theological Seminary, which institution is located some 16 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, where he continued under theological instruction for the subsequent four years. He next attended Eden College of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, which is located in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was graduated in 1882, after a course of close study covering three years. In the year of his graduation, Mr. Egger accepted the pastorate of St. Paul's German Evangelical. Church, and remained in charge for six years, when he was transferred to St. Paul's Evangelical Church at Woodsfield, Monroe County. He remained there almost six years, but in 1894 he returned to Liberty township and resumed his old pleasant relations with the congregation of St. Paul's. To some extent, Mr. Egger is interested also in agriculture, as he owns a good farm of 8o acres in this vicinity. Mr. Egger was married on October 26, 1882, to Mary Buckio, who was born in Monroe County, Ohio. Of their eight children, six survive, as follows : Leivis S., Freda B., Simeon S., Frank T., Lovina A. and Cornelius. Mr. Egger is one of the leading ministers of his church in Mercer County. He possesses the power to make the truth known and it is largely due to his influence that so many of the younger generation still cling to the church of their forefathers. In every walk of life he has friends and to all he is loyal in time of trouble, ministering as becomes a pious Christian leader. WALTER NIMROD MONROE WALTER NIMROD MONROE,. justice of the peace of Franklin township, and a prominent resident of Montezuma, belongs to one of the early settled families of this town, in fact, he was born on the present site of Montezuma, which was then a part of his father's farm, on July 26, 1867. He is a son of James Henry and Elizabeth A. (Duffy) Monroe. James Henry Monroe was born in. Pennsylvania and accompanied his parents, who were Virginians, to Shelby County, Ohio, where the father bought a farm along the Miami and Erie Canal. The grandfather of our subject had 17 children, the survivors being: Jonathan; Lyde, widow of Samuel Hunt, residing in Shelby County; Tawny, who is a resident of Jefferson township, Mercer County; and Josephine, who married Coleman Baker, of Shelby County. 652 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY James Henry Monroe grew to manhood in Shelby County, where he married Elizabeth A. Duffy. They settled on a farm in that county where the lived until 1856, when Mr. Monroe moved to Franklin township, Merce County. At that time a few scattered houses made up what is now the pros perous town of Montezuma and Mr. Monroe's farm included almost all of the present site. James H. Monroe engaged in farming until he retired from active life. His death occurred on November 20, 1892. His children were David L. and James Francis, born in Shelby County, and Joseph Henry Martha, Mary E. and Walter Nimrod, who were born in Mercer County David L. married (first) Nancy Gray and after her death married (second) Bertha Swartz ; he and his second wife are both deceased; James Francis married Sarah Cain and lives in Franklin township; Joseph Henry, died unmarried, in 1903, Martha died in infancy, Mary E. is the wife of Elias Stafford, of Montezuma. Walter N. Monroe spent his boyhood on the farm which now forms a part of his village home. This property he purchased from his brother. He has been one of the leading citizens of Montezuma almost since he attained manhood, having served the town as mayor for some five years, as councilman for four years, and in 1897 he was appointed a justice of the peace. In the following spring he was elected to this office and has been retained in id ever since, his service being most satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Monroe was married (first), in 1889, to Mary Ann Clayton, who died August 10, 1896, the mother of three children—Orville, Willard and Clarence (deceased). On March 7, 1897, Mr. Monroe was married to Emma Nolan, a daughter of Henry and Matilda (Younger) Nolan. The father of Mrs. Monroe was born in Mercer County and died in February, 1901. The mother was born in an old log cabin in this county where her father, Robert Younger, had settled as a pioneer. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Monroe are : Samuel, who married Mary Grace and lives in Center township, near Celina; Frank, Roy, Harry and Ben, all living in Center township; Ida, wife of James Delong; and Anna. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe were : Goldie, who died in infancy; and Opal, Ruth, Kale, Roy and Charles, all living at home. Mr. Monroe is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees tent at Montezuma and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge at Celina. JOHN POWELL 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 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 653 11, Washington township, and 80 acres in section 27, Liberty township. Mr. Powell was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 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. He settled then on a farm in Butler County, not far distant from Hamilton, where he resided until 1852, when he removed to Washington township, Mercer County, where he bought 32o 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. Lucy Hillergass, who died near Fort Wayne, Indiana ; Mrs. Susan Bitner, who died in Wood County, Ohio; Samuel, who was a 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 then 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 of 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. 654 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY ADAM SCHAADT ADAM SCHAADT, deceased, was in life one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Liberty township, where he owned a farm of 16o acres on which he resided for over a decade. Mr. Schaadt was born in Van Wert County. Ohio, February 24, 1846, and died in Mercer County, March 21, 1895. He was a son of Adam and Phebe (Giesler) Schaadt. The parents of our subject were natives of Germany and were among the early settlers of Van Wert County. Of their children, but one son survives—Philip, who resides in Van Wert County. Another son, Fred, died November 8, 1906, in Liberty township. The late Adam Schaadt was reared in Van Wert County and from his youth was familiar with all kinds of agricultural work and devoted his attention through life to farming and stock-raising. In 1880 he removed from Van Wert County to Mercer and settled in Liberty township, where he lived until his death. Mr. Schaadt was married on August 16, 1870, to Mary Koch, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, September 28, 1850, and is a daughter of John and Mary Koch. Her parents, who were natives of Germany, settled first in Butler County upon coming to Ohio, but subsequently came to Mercer County. Twelve children were born to our subject and wife, of whom nine survive, as follows : Phebe, wife of Jacob Haas ; David J. and Henry W., both of Liberty township; Susanna. C., wife of William Becher, of Liberty township; Annie 0., wife of Louis Alt, of Liberty township; Rosa, wife of Otto Wendel, of Liberty township; John Adam, of Liberty township; and Emma and Freda E., both living at home. The widow of our subject resides on the home farm and continues to operate the same. She, with her children, is well known and most highly esteemed in this section. Adam Schaadt was a member of the Democratic party. He belonged, as does his wife, to the Evangelical Association. He was an affectionate husband, a loving father, a consistent member of his church and a good and peaceful citizen. JAMES H. MONROE JAMES H. MONROE, whose 40-acre farm on which he resides is situated in section 9, Jefferson township, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, near Lockington, on September 17, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Mary Jane (Miller) Monroe. Henry Monroe was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and came to Shelby County with his half-brother when 21 years old. Here he secured AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 655 work in a sawmill and also ground corn. He was married in Shelby County to Mary Jane Miller and they had seven children, three of whom are living: James H., John and D. S. James H. Monroe lived with his parents in Shelby County until 1856 when the family removed to a farm of 120 acres in Butler township, Mercer County, that his father purchased. It was here our subject was reared and educated, making this his home until one year after his marriage. At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Monroe enlisted for 100 days in Company I, 156th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. After the conclusion of his original term of enlistment, he again enlisted in February, 1865, becoming a member of Company D, 193rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and serving until the close of the war. In 1872 Mr. Monroe moved to his present farm which he had purchased in 1863. He has made many improvements, building a new house and barn as well as other necessary buildings. He also cultivates 70 acres in section 0, which he rents of Christopher Schunck. In October, 1866, Mr. Monroe was married to Dena Cencabaugh. They have had 10 children, namely : William, who married Ida Beougher and lives in Jefferson township; Ralph B., who married Martha Cordier, lives in Jefferson township and has one child, Helen; Virgil, living on the home place, who married Lola West and has one son; Flora, who married Charles Taylor, lives in Monroe township and has three children—James Edward, Elizabeth and Ralph ; Earl, who lives at home; Henry, Mary, Fannie and Gabe, deceased ; and Laura, who married Henry Goodnick and died in March, 1901, leaving seven children—Murley, Susan, Daney, Bessie, Flora, James and Willie. Mr. Monroe has served on the School Board for several years and served as supervisor of Butler township while living there. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Spring Valley United Brethren Church. WILLIAM E. SLOAN WILLIAM E. SLOAN, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of 80 acres located in section 23, Washington township, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, September 9, 1852, and is a son of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Jeffers) Sloan. Isaiah Sloan, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, is a son of Hugh Sloan, and came to Fairfield County with his parents when a small child. He was married to Elizabeth Jeffers and they had 10 children, of whom William E. Sloan was the third child. Isaiah Sloan died in Washington township, Mercer County, in 1894. William E. Sloan was reared in Shelby County on his father's farm, and when 23 years old came with his father to Mercer County, his mother having 656 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY died when he was 15 years of age. In 1883 he formed a partnership with James C. Snyder and Henry Adams for the erection of a large tile-mill at Erastus, Washington township, in which business he engaged for a period of years, after which he sold his interest in the mill to Mr. Swartz. He next rented a sawmill from James C. Snyder, which he operated for the next two years, and then bought a farm of 8o acres located in section 23, Washington township, which he kept only a few days, selling to Fred Hehmeyer. In September, 1896, he bought his present farm of 8o acres, where he has since resided, engaged in general farming. Many improvements have been made on the place, and a fine frame house and barn have been built, the latter being completed in 1901. Mr. Sloan was married in 1898 to Maria Carmack, a daughter of Charles Carmack. JAMES FRANCIS MONROE JAMES FRANCIS MONROE, whose excellent farm of 76 acres is situated in section 19, Franklin township, was born May 21, 1857, on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, and is a son of James Henry and Elizabeth A. (Duffy) Monroe. James Henry Monroe was born in Pennsylvania and in young manhood accompanied his parents, who were Virginians, to Shelby County, Ohio, locating near Lockington. He there married Elizabeth A. Duffy, who was also born in Virginia. They had two children born to them before leaving Shelby County, viz. : David L., who married (first) Nancy Gray and (second) Bertha Swartz ; and James Francis, of this sketch. After the family removed to Mercer County, these children were born : Joseph Henry, who lived to the age of 34 years ; Martha, who died aged four years ; Mary E., who married Elias Stafford, lives at Montezuma, where the mother of our subject also resides; and Walter Nimrod, also of Montezuma, who married (first) Mary Ann Clayton and (second) Emma Nolan. James F. Monroe was about 15 months old when his parents moved to Mercer County, where the father bought a farm of 120 acres in section 300 Franklin township, on which he died in 1892. He had been a farmer all his life and was a most highly respected, worthy man. James F. Monroe attended the country schools and worked for his father until his marriage, which took place on October 17, 1879, to Sarah Cain, a daughter of D. B. Cain, of Paulding County. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have had 11 children, as follows : Sidney, Lloyd and Fred, all deceased in childhood; William 0., who married Pearl Tinnet and has one son, Cecil, who is our subject's only grandchild; and Ida, Lura, Ethel, Stella, Dallas, Jennie and Harold, all at home. William 0. Mon- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 657 roe is a well-known and popular school teacher, having taught for three years at Montezuma, one year in Hopewell and one year in Jefferson township. Mr. Monroe bought his farm before his marriage, purchasing it from the Washington Wade estate. It is divided into two portions and is located near Lake Mercer. After marriage, he built his present comfortable residence and other buildings. He carries on general farming and stock-raising. Mrs. Monroe has five sisters and two brothers, namely : Anna, who married Albert Reed; Perlina Rachel; Narcissa, who married Elias Roebuck; Mary Nancy, who married Franklin Gallapoo ; Millie, who married Willis Chittington; Jonathan William, who married Laura Colvin; and David Isaiah. The father of Mrs. Monroe was born in Darke County, Ohio, married Narcissa Manning, in Randolph County, Indiana, and both reside in Paulding County, Ohio. Mr. Monroe has been a member of the township School Board for a number of years and has served the community as road supervisor for several terms. He is an Odd Fellow, being a member of the subordinate lodge, the Rebekah lodge and the encampment. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is known as an honest, upright man, and is a type of the best class of citizens that the county produces. FRED HEHMEYER FRED HEHMEYER, one of the leading citizens of Washington township, and the owner of 225 acres of valuable farm land-160 acres in section 24, Washington township (the home place), and 65 acres in section 19, Butler township—was born in Germany, April 10, 1859, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Knippenberg) Hehmeyer, both of whom were born and died in Germany. Fred Hehmeyer was reared on his father's farm in Germany, remaining there until 20 years of age, when he entered the German Army and served for three years. He then returned to his home and about four months later came to America, landing in New York, April 14, 1882. He located at Dayton, Ohio, for a short time, and then came to Mercer County, where he engaged in farm work until after his marriage, when he moved to a farm owned by his wife. Later he bought 80 acres in Washington township, adjoining his wife's farm, and still later bought another tract of 65 acres in Butler township. He has made many improvements on his property and has erected a large frame house, barn and other necessary buildings. Mr. Hehmeyer is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, owning full-blooded Polled Durham cattle and Poland-China and Chester-White hogs. 658 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Mr. Hehmeyer was married in 1884 to Christina Wenker, a daughter of Frank and Charlotte (Varwig) Wenker, both natives of Germany, who came to America about 1852, and settled near New Bremen, Ohio, where they lived for about 12 years. Mr. Wenker was a volunteer soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving about nine months. Shortly after returning from the war, he sold his farm near New Bremen and moved to Mercer County, where he bought a farm of 8o acres in Washington township. To this land he added from time to time and at his death owned 160 acres. His death occurred in March, 1889, and his wife died about 1887. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Hehmeyer was the fifth child. To Mr. and Mrs. Hehmeyer were born 10 children : Carl, Caroline, Tillie, George, Ida, Henry, John, Emma, Annie and Elice. Mr. Hehmeyer is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has been a trustee and deacon. JOSEPH MACKE JOSEPH MACKE, the owner of 200 acres of excellent farming land in Granville township, has his r80idence on the homestead of 8o acres, situated in section 21, southeast of St. Henry. He was born April 3, 1848, in Butler township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Schonoff) Macke. Bernard Macke was born in Germany in 1802, and died in Mercer county, December 2, 1849. He came from his native village of Havrebeck without companions, but later found countrymen at Cincinnati, where he worked in a stone quarry. He was married ande he lived in that city, andj then purchased from Bernard Romer a farm which was situated in the forests of Mercer County. The elder Joseph Romer had known them in the old country and often visited them while they lived in Cincinnati, being a relative also. When Mr. and Mrs. Macke were ready ttheir up their residence on theiti forest farm, Mr. Romer drove them out to the property and landed the0nand their few possessions, on a Saturday, in the big woods, under a beech tree. Being devout Catholics, they did no work on the following day, but by the time the next Sunday came round they had a roof to shelter them. This farm was cleared by Bernard Macke. After his death, his widow married Henry J. Brackman, who also came from Germany. The children born to the parents of our subject, were: Mary, who died in infancy; Henry ; Bernard, who died aged 20 years ; Catherine; Joseph, of this sketch; and Agnes. There were no children born to Mrs. Macke's second marriage; she died May 21, 1881. Mr. Brackman died February 6, 1874. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 661 Joseph Macke's parents moved to Mercer County five years bef0re his birth. He received his home farm of 80 acres from his father's estate when he came of age. About three miles southwest of the homestead is located his other farm, consisting of 120 acres, lying chiefly south of the Greenville treaty line in section 22. The Wabash River runs through a corner of this tract. He distinctly remembers the time when an abundance of game was t0 be found on the farm. For 40 years Mr. Macke has been a heavy dealer in live-stock,. in addition to carrying on general farming. On October 16, 1866, Mr. Macke was married to Theresa Drahman, who. was born March 27, 1850, on her father's farm in Mercer C0unty, and is a daughter of Bernard and Mary (Hemmelgarn) Draham. Mr. Draham became acquainted with the Macke family in Cincinnati. He was married in Mercer County and died December 2, 1895. His widow survived until July 3, 1899. Their children were : Henry, of Minnesota ; Bernardina, deceased; Anna, deceased; Theresa, wife of Mr. Macke; Elizabeth, deceased; Margaret, deceased; John, of Minnesota ; Joseph, of Cincinnati ; Frances, wife of J. H. Lange, of Mercer County ; and Bernard, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Macke have had children as follows : Mary, who married Frank Gels, lives at St. Henry and has had six children—Theresa, Joseph, Henry, Ida and two deceased ; Elizabeth, who married John Panning, lives at St. Henry and has had four children—Edwin, Leone and two deceased; Rose, who married Jacob Bany. lives at St. Henry and has had seven children: Mathilda, Loretta, Flora, Marie, Cleopha, Alvera, and an infant son, deceased, named Urban ;'Joseph, who married Rose Miller, resides on a nearby farm and has one child, Helen ; Theresa, who married John Gels and lives at St. Henry ; Bernard; Clara ; Anna; Leo; Henry, deceased; Theresa, deceased; Henry; and Ida, deceased. The family belong to St. Henry's Catholic Church at St. Henry. For a number of years Mr. Macke has served on the School Board of the township. LEWIS EDWARD FOX LEWIS EDWARD F0x, one of Union township's representative business men, who is engaged in the manufacture 0f tile and in the operation of a farm of 80 acres on which he has. lived for the past 25 years, was born June is, 1853, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: He is a son 0f Peter and Fanny (Moyer) Fox and a grandson of Peter and Anna (Secrist) Fox. Peter Fox, Jr., the father of our subject, was born and reared on the farm in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where Lewis Edward was born and raised, and it was here that the paternal grandfather was also reared. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Christian Moyer, moved from Lan- 662 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY caster County, Pennsylvania, to Dauphin County, where he lived the greater part of his life. Peter Fox died in 1868 at the age of 53 years. He was the father of six sons and one daughter, as follows : Lewis Edward; Benjamin Franklin, deceased; Christian Henry, deceased; John Wesley, who is a resident of Springfield, Ohio, where he is engaged as a machinist; William L., a resident of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; Peter W., deceased; and Clara Annie, who married W. H. Wolf, of Pembroke, Pennsylvania. Lewis Edward Fox was reared on his father's farm in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, received a common-school education and then engaged in farming. In the fall of 1870 he moved to Mercer County, Ohio, and worked on a farm at Neptune for two years. He then went back to his old home in Pennsylvania, but later returned to Mercer County, where he has since lived. Mr. Fox settled on his present farm in 1881. He was subsequently located for one year at Rockford, where he helped put in a tile plant. After selling the same, he returned to his home in Union township, where he has been engaged in manufacturing tile for the past 24 years, having established the factory in 1862. He has always had a large trade and never has been able to manufacture enough to supply the full demand. In 1905 he established a new plant, and with new appliances and improved machinery he has largely increased the output. He finds a ready sale for the product, as there is a growing demand for tile and building blocks. He employs eight men to operate the plant. Mr. Fox has made a great many improvements on the farm, on which there was only a small log cabin when it came into his possession. Views of the residence and tile plant accompany this sketch. Mr. Fox was married January 5, 1876, to Jennie R. Boroff, a native of Union township, Mercer County, and a daughter of the late Harrison and Rebecca (Ross) Boroff, who were among the early settlers of Mercer County. Children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox as follows: William H.; deceased; Clara B., who married Milton Faurot and resides in Van Wert County ; Harry G., deceased; Amy, who married Perry Hays and has one child, Helen; Richmond Boyd, deceased; Eddie and Fannie (twins, aged 17 years), who live at home; Peter, aged 14 years; and Marlin, aged 7. Mr. Fox is an Odd Fellow of high standing, being a member of the subordinate and Rebekah lodges at Mendon and the encampment at Celina. He is also a charter member of Mendon Lodge, No. 586, F. & A. M. He is a Democrat politically, but supports the man in preference to the party. JOSEPH A. MEINERDING JOSEPH A. MEINERDING, one of the substantial business men of Fort Recovery, dealer in hardware and farming implements, was born in Fort Re- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 663 covery, Mercer County, Ohio, February 1, 1875, and is a son of Wessel and Agnes (Romer) Meinerding. Wessel Meinerding was born at Maria Stein, Mercer County, and was reared in this county. He moved to Fort Recovery after his marriage and opened a general store which he operated for several years, finally changing it to a dry goods and clothing store. He also ran an elevator. His death occurred in 1884. His wife is still living in Fort Recovery. They had seven children, namely : Elizabeth, who married W. H. Anthony, of Celina; Mary; Catherine, widow of the late J. W. Schroeder; W. H., of Petersburg, Indiana, who is in the dry goods business; Agnes; Joseph A.; and Wessel, of Chicago, Illinois. Joseph A. Meinerding was reared and educated at Fort Recovery. After his marriage he assisted his brother-in-law, J. W. Schroeder, who was, engaged in the hardware business, which he established in 1891. After some experience in this business he formed a partnership with Mr. Schroeder in 1897, and at the death of the latter, in 1903, he took possession of the entire business. Mr. Meinerding was married September I, 1902, to Gertrude Forbing, a daughter of Peter Forbing. They have two children: Paul B., and Catherine Gertrude. He is a member of the Catholic Church. Fraternally, he is a member of Lima Council, Knights of Columbus. ANTON KOCH ANTOX KOCH, one of the leading citizens of Chattanooga, for many years was a successful agriculturist in Liberty township, was born in Butler County, Ohio, October 28, 1847, and is a son of John and Annie M. Koch. The parents of our subject were born, reared and married in Germany. J0hn Koch was born January 1, 1814, and his wife December 20, 1813. A short time before the birth of our subject, they emigrated to America and settled in Butler County, Ohio, where they remained until 1852, when they came to Mercer County. They settled on a farm in Liberty township, where they passed the remainder of their lives, John Koch dying February 3, 1892, and his wife, October 19, 1898. They were worthy, industrious, home-building people. The surviving members of the family are one son, Anton, and five daughters, as follows: Susan, wife of John Bauer, of Liberty township ; Lena, widow of Joseph Harb, residing in Liberty township; Christina, widow of Adam Bollenbacher, residing in Liberty township; Mary, widow of Adam Schaadt. residing in Liberty township; and Phebe, wife of Philip Schaadt, of Van Wert County. Another daughter, Catherine, who was the wife of Fred 664 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Schaadt, died July 5, 1898, leaving i0 children; Fred Schaadt died Novembe 8, 1906. Anton Koch was about five years 0ld when his parents settled in Liberty township and here he was reared, and educated in the district schools. Prior to 1903, when he moved to the pleasant village 0f Chattanooga and retired from business activity, he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits entirely and met with the success which provided him with a competency. On February 9, 1871, Mr. Koch was married to Margaret Menchhofe who was born in Germany and is a daughter of John and Catherine Mench hofer, also natives of Germany. When Mrs. Koch was a child of four years, her parents emigrated to America and came directly to Mercer County, settling in Washington township. Mrs. Koch was reared there and can remember many interesting events of her girlhood connected with the early days in that vicinity. Her father, John Menchhofer, died February 14, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Koch have had nine children born to them, but only four survive, all of whom have homes and domestic circles of their own. They are: Mary, born January 28, 1874, wh0 is the wife of L. G. Baker, of Black Creek township; John, born February 14, 1876, and George A., born December 1, 1877, both 0f whom reside in Liberty township; and Maggie, bor January 1, 1880, who is the wife of Henry Baker, of Chattanooga. In politics, Mr. Koch has always been affiliated with the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Evangelical Associa tion. They have pleasant social connections at Chattanooga and have man friends in Liberty township. JOHN McQUEEN JOHN McQUEEN, treasurer of Washington township, who profitably operates his farm of 95 acres in section 25, Washington township, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, January 17, 1842, and is a son of Ivie and Mario (Anderson) McQueen. John McQueen spent his childhood days in Scotland and was 10 years of age when his parents came to America and located in Michigan. They remained there one summer, removing in September, 1852, to Mercer County, Ohio, settling upon a farm in Recovery township, which was purchased by Ivie McQueen, who died less than a year later. Mrs. McQueen died at the home of her daughter in Washington township in 1885, aged 91 years. They had four children: John; James, deceased in 1868; William, who is engaged in farming in Kansas; and Jane, who married John Ransbottom and died in the fall of 1903. John McQueen lived in Recovery township until 1865, when he en- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 665 listed in the 193rd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served until the close of the war. He returned to Mercer County but not to Recovery township, as the home farm had been sold; he bought 40 acres in Washington township, on which he lived for one year and then sold this land. Mr. McQueen bought his present farm shortly after his marriage, it being then all timberland, and has made many improvements. Mrs. McQueen, has a part interest in the property. On January 1, 1867, Mr. McQueen was married to Margaret Jamieson, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Moore) Jamieson. Mrs. McQueen was born in Scotland and when five years old came to America with her parents who settled on the farm adjoining her present home and spent the remainder of their lives in Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson were) the parents of four children, namely: Agnes, deceased, who was the wife of Hugh Woodburn and lived in Iowa; Hugh, residing in Washington township near the Indiana State line; George, residing in Washington township; and Margaret. Mrs. Jamieson married !Tames Woodburn after the death of her first husband, and she passed away September 30, 1903, aged 90 years. Mr. and Mrs. McQueen have had 13 children, as follows : Elizabeth, deceased, aged 19 years; Marion, who married John McClelland, lives in Washington township and has three children—Clifford, Robert and Margaret; John, deceased, aged 15, years; Robert, who married Jerusha Kelly and lives in Washington township; James and Hugh, who died in infancy; Agnes, who married Oscar Snyder, lives at Coldwater and has two children—Margaret and Glenwood Loree; Ida Pearl, who married John Leininger, of Washington township, and has one child, Elva ; George, who was accidentally killed while raising a barn, dying April 14, 1905, aged 23 years; Maria, who married Leonard Burris and has one child, Goldie; Nellie, who married Charles Powell, of Jefferson township, and has one child, Paul; and Clyde and Clifford, both at home. Mr. McQueen has served as school director for 20 years. In the fall of 1905 he was elected township treasurer on the Republican ticket, the election coming as a great surprise to him, as he was unaware his name was being used. CLEMMONS H. HULSMAN CLEMMONS H. HULSMAN, owner of a well-improved farm of 80 acres in Granville township, was born August 7, 1844, and is a son of Henry and Anna (Dennis) Hulsman. 666 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Henry Hulsman, who was a native of Germany, located at Cincinnati, Ohio, upon coming to this country and was there married. He subsequently moved to Mercer County and worked for a time on the canal and reservoir. He later bought a farm in Granville township, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in the fall of 1856. By his first marriage, with Anna Dennis, he became the father of five children: Bernard, deceased; Henry ; Clemmons H., the subject of this sketch; Catherine, who married Bernard Johnson; and a daughter, deceased. The second union, with Dina Sumbrink, resulted in three children, namely: Mary, who mar-bed Clem. Morthorst; Theodore; and a child, deceased. Clemmons H. Hulsman was reared on the home place in Granville township and engaged in working on different farms until about 32 years of age, when he was married to Caroline Winhoven, a daughter of Peter Winhoven. Mrs. Hulsman died about 10 months after their marriage leaving a daughter, Caroline, who is also deceased. The second marriage was with Frances Fiely, the eighth child in a family of 14 children born to William and Mary (Holthouse) Fiely. A sketch of William may be found elsewhere in this work, being included in the biography of his son, Henry John Fiely. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulsman, namely: Mary, William, Anthony, Leo, Catherine, Rose, and Frances and Froneca (twins). Mr. Hulsman owned and resided on a farm of 40 acres until 1903, when he purchased his present farm from his brother-in-law, Joseph Fiely, and has since lived here, engaged in general farming, being recognized as one of the township's most enterprising and successful citizens. Politically, Mr. Hulsman is a stanch Democrat, but has never cared to enter actively into politics. Our subject and his family are connected with St. Francis' Catholic Church at Cranberry Prairie. MICHAEL VELTEN 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, January 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 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 667 Velten, who was engaged in farming, was also a weaver and died in 1887 at the age of 54 years. His wife died January 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 w0rked 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, Miss0uri, Kansas, Indian Territory, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and New Jersey, after which he returned t0 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 October 8, 1896, to Rose Vogel, who was born at Utica, New York, March 25, 1874, and is a daughter of Henry and Maria (Beck) V0gel, who were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, France, now a part of Germany. Mr. Vogel, who was a soldier in the French Army f0r 14 years, came to America in 1873, and settled at Utica, New York, subsequently locating on a farm near Gibsonburg, Sandusky 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 0ld c0untry, 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 0f Mary, Help of Christians, at Fort Recovery. 668 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY HENRY JOHN FIELY HENRY JOHN FIELY, owner of a fine farm of 120 acres located in section 23, Granville township, was born on the farm where he now resides, November 1, 1867, and is a son of William and Mary (Holthouse) Fiely. William Fiely, who was born in Holland, came to America when a young man. After landing at New York, he worked for a few days on a Ship and then proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for two years, working at odd jobs, sometimes for so little as 70 cents per day. He was married while in Cincinnati to Mary Holthouse, who came from Germany with her parents when very young and settled at Cincinnati. She was a daughter of Eberhard Holthouse, who was the father of seven children, namely : Eberhard, Henry, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine and Angelica. Shortly after the birth of his oldest son, Mr. Fiely and family moved to Mercer County, and bought a small farm near Philothea. He later s0ld that farm and purchased 40 acres in Granville township, which is now a part of our subject's farm. There were no buildings on the land, which was covered with timber and wholly unimproved. He first erected a rough log stable, and in that his wife and child found shelter. It was in the fall of the year when he located on the place, and he had nothing but $5 in money and an axe with which to cut down timber. He bought a steer of. Mr. Spoltman, paying for the same by work, and in the meantime kept on clearing his land. The following summer he carried brick for St. Henry's Catholic Church, which was then being built, and earned enough to buy another steer. He soon made good progress in clearing his own farm. Wild game of all kinds was plentiful and no roads were to be found, only foot-paths such as were made by the cattle. He cut down timber, made barrel staves from the white oak trees and carted them into Minster, exchanging a load of staves for a sack of flour ; it required two days to make the trip, and he would stay out on the road all night. He bought the first reaper in his part of the county; it was a very awkward machine to handle and it was while operating it that he lost his arm. He was a very successful farmer and gradually acquired more and more land until at his death he owned about 340 acres. He started the first brick-kiln in his section of the county; the nearest one being at Fort Recovery, and for 14 seasons was engaged in this business, in which he was very successful. He was the father of 14 children, namely : Mrs. Mary Spoltman; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Bosken; Anna, wife of William Schwietermann; Louise, who died aged 18 years ; Catherine, wife of Bernard Bertke; Henry, deceased in infancy ; John H., who married Philomena. Bertke; Bernardina, wife of Henry Sheffer; Frances, wife of Clem. H. Hulsman; Joseph, who married Elizabeth Eyink; Bernard, who married AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 669 Mary Fernbauch; Henry (2), the subject of this sketch; Philomena, wife of Fred Bertke; and Christina. Mr. Fiely died March 8, 1894. His wife is still living and resides at Cranberry Prairie. Henry Fiely was reared on his father's farm in Granville township, has always lived in Mercer County and has never been away from home for any length of time. He was married July 31, 1895, to Anna Neuhardt, who was born at Indianapolis, Indiana, August 12, 1875, and is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Boehmer) Neuhardt, both natives of Germany. Mr. Neuhardt came to this country when a young man and first settled at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was married in 1869. Shortly after his marriage, he moved to Mercer County, Ohio, and located at Cassella, where he followed his trade, having learned wood carving and carpentering in Germany. He worked on all the principal churches in the county and built a great many houses, among them our subject's house, which is a seven-room brick structure, erected in 1876. He lived in Mercer County for about 30 years, and then moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he is now a foreman in a furniture factory. His wife is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Neuhardt, are the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who married Bernard Forsthoefel; Carrie, wife of Valentine Leonard; Anna; Maggie, who married Frank Stayer; Henry, who married Bertha Ugal; Agnes, who married Joseph Long; Anthony; Frances; Fred, deceased; and Fred (2). Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fiely, as follows : Edith, William, Alfred, Andrew, Henry (deceased in infancy), and Henrietta. Mr. Fiely and his family are members of St. Francis' Catholic Church at Cranberry Prairie. SILVERIUS GEBELE SILVERIUS GEBELE, a representative farmer of Granville township, owning 120 acres in section 20, was born November 30, 1840, in Perry County, Ohio, and is a son of Sebastian and Crescent (Rodgaber) Gebele. Sebastian Gebele accompanied his father, from Bayern, Germany, to America, in 1840. His mother, who was also a member of the party, died at sea. There were but two children in the family, Sebastian and Joseph, who died when he was about to enter the German Army. The grandparents of our subject had conducted an inn in their native land and there Sebastian learned the brewing business. Sebastian Gebele and his father bought a farm of 4o acres in Perry County, Ohio, and there the father died in 1849. In Germany Sebastian had married and when he came to America he brought with him his wife and his two children : Sebastian, who married Rebecca 670 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Flower and lives in Zanesville, Ohio, and Mary, also a resident of Zanesville, who married Edward Markel. The other members of the family were born in America, as follows: Silverius, of this sketch; Jacob, who married Addie Keck, served four years in the army during the Civil War and died at Zanesville; Leonard, wh0 married Rose Reitleman and lives at St. Henry; George, who married Felice Garney and died at Celina; Julia Ann, who married Liebolt Lauber and lives in Missouri; and Catherine, who married Fred Fiesley and lives at Zanesville. Sebastian Gebele lived in Perry County until November 1, 1849, when he came to this county. This was nothing but a wilderness at that time and neighbors who lived many miles away were considered near. He bought 40 acres of land from Bernard Romer, cleared the tract and on it erected a round-log cabin. Here he died in September, 1854. Later his widow bought 40 acres from Peter Bert, making the homestead 80 acres in extent. When she died in February, 1887, our subject bought the home place and at a later date bought 40 acres, which the grandfather had left to the grandsons. In May, 1867, Silverius Gebele was united in marriage with Elizabeth Romer, who died December 28, 1870. She was born April 20, 1847, and was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Klinetrimp) Romer. Two children were born to this union: John Edward, who married Anna Smith and George William, who married Mary Zarringer; and both sons are residents of Fort Recovery. On November 28, 1872, Mr. Gebele was married (second) to Mary Crush, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 22, 185o, and is a daughter of John and Margaret Crush, natives of Germany, who settled in Seneca County, Ohio, upon coming to this country, where Mr. Crush followed the coopering business. Later they moved to Maryland and followed farming for a time and then removed to Mercer County and settled on a farm near St. Henry, where John Crush died in 1870, aged 77 years. His wife then removed to Pulaski, Indiana, where she died aged 78 years. They had children as follows : Lena, who died in childhood; John, who married Christiana Soefelman, of Martin's Ferry, Ohio; Frances, deceased, who was the wife of Mathias Beck; Margaret, who married Charles Studer and lives at Wheeling, West Virginia; Catherine, widow of Casper Rieterbuch, residing at Pulaski, Indiana; Elizabeth, who married Anton Miller and lives at St. Henry; Peter, who married Elizabeth Brenkman and died in Indiana; and Mary, the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Gebele have had 10 children, of whom seven are now living, namely: Joseph Albert, who married Catherine Tangeman and lives at Fort Recovery; John Henry, who married Agatha Staggler and lives AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 671 at Dayton ; Casper Leonard, who married Emma Hammon and rents his father's farm ; Silverius M., who resides at St. Henry; Philip Ernest, born November 17, 1892 ; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Rosner, formerly a resident of Fort Recovery, but now of St. Henry; and Grace, who married Frank Bany, and lives at St. Henry. The names of the grandchildren are: John, Elizabeth, Paulina and Chrisenthia Gebele; Edwin, Viola, William, Marcella and Louella Gebele; Mary and Lilliosa Rosner; and Evalina, Lenora, and Leroy Gebele. Three sons, Joseph, Henry and Leonard, were married on the same day, at St. Henry. The old homestead is a picturesque residence, a part of the old log 'house having been retained and remodeled, while all is beautifully shaded by trees. Here Mr. and Mrs. Gebele are spending the evening of life surrounded by all that will tend to render them comfortable and happy. The sons and daughters take all the burdens from the parents and the grand: children swarming around their knees bring back the years of their early married life. They are very highly respected in this community. Both are devout members of the Catholic Church. Politically, Mr. Gebele is a Democrat; he served through one term as constable, three terms as township trustee and for a number of years was a member of the School Board. WILLIAM FREDERICK PAUSCH WILLIAM FREDERICK PAUSCH, merchant, dealer in groceries and queensware, at Fort Recovery, was born at St. Marys, Ohio, December 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. Marys 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. 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 September 17, 1893. His widow still survives. 672 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY 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, wh0 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 br0ther 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 To-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 6 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Pausch have two children, namely : Rolla, born March 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 surviving brothers, namely : Theodore, a merchant in New Bremen, who 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 Pisgah Congregational Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Eagles. THOMAS HART THOMAS HART, who has been a resident of Gibson township since 1872, resides on his farm of 96 acres in section 23. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, January 2, 1866, and is a son of Thomas and Kate (Ennis) Hart. Thomas Hart, Sr., was born in Ireland, where he grew to manhood. Upon coming to the United States, he located at New York, where he worked for a number of years and was married. About 1861 he moved to Fayette AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 673 County, Ohio, where he settled on a farm on which he lived until 1872, when he moved to Mercer County and bought the farm now owned by our subject and his brother James, who is engaged in teaching school. Thomas Hart died in 1901 and his wife died in 1897. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living. The record is as follows : Patrick, who lives in Recovery township; John, a resident of Granville township; Thomas ; Peter, who died aged 21 years ; James, who teaches in the Koester school district, Gibson township; Mary, who died aged 22 years; and Margaret, wife of Michael Resh, living in Recovery township. Thomas Hart came to Mercer County with his parents when six years of age, and has since lived in this township and on the farm, where his father first located, the land at that time being chiefly covered with timber. Mr. Hart was married in the fall of 1898 to Clara Stachler, a daughter of Henry Stachler. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have no children. They are both members of St. Wendelin's Catholic Church at Wendelin. GEORGE KLINGSHIRN GEORGE KLINGSHIRN, who resides 0n his well-developed farm of 8o acres, located in section 30, Gibson township, was born June 4, 1864, on a farm in Gibson township directly across the road from his present property, and is a son of Sebastian and Kunigunda (Friedmann) Klingshirn, natives of Germany. Sebastian Klingshirn was about 14 years old when he came to the United States with his father, who located on a farm in Lorain County, Ohio, near French Creek. His mother died in Germany when he was quite small, and he was reared by his step-mother. After living in Lorain County for about 16 or 17 years he moved to Mercer County, about the year 1862, one year after his marriage. Here he bought a farm of 40 acres in Gibson township, to which farm he added from time to time, at one time owning as much as 360 acres of farm land, 200 acres being in Gibson township and the remaining 160 acres in Granville township. He divided 240 acres of this land among his children, and now lives on the remaining 120 acres. He was the father of 11 children—six girls and five boys—seven of whom are now living. George Klingshirn was reared and educated in Gibson township. After his marriage, he located on his present farm 0f 80 acres and has since lived here engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has a well-improved farm, with good and substantial buildings, having erected a large farmhouse in 1892 and a fine large barn in 1902. Mr. Klingshirn was married, January 31, 1893, to Mary Magdalene 674 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Frank, a gaughter 0f John Frank, a well-known farmer of Recovery township. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Klingshirn, namely : Joseph Sebastian, Kunigunda Mary, Leo Joseph, Urban Peter and Edward Joseph. Our subject is a member 0f the Sharpsburg Special District School Board. He is also a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church at Sharpsburg. BERNARD HUERKAMP BERNARD HUERKAMP, a prominent farmer of Washington township, residing 0n his well-improved farm of 120 acres, was born in Germany, June 3, 1855, and is a son of Bernard and Gertrude (Grapperhaus) Huerkamp. Bernard Huerkamp, Sr., was born and raised in Germany, where he lived until 1881 when he came to America with his wife and four children, and located on the farm now owned by our subject in Washington township. He was the father of five sons and two daughters, namely : Philomena, who married Bernard Gumme and lives on a farm adjoining the home farm; Bernard; Joseph, deceased in 1893, who conducted a general store at Monterey; Henry, a merchant of Santa Ana, Kentucky; August, proprietor of a general store at C0vington, Kentucky ; Elizabeth, deceased in 1903, who was the wife of Joseph Schroer, of Washington township; and Martin, living at Ellinger, Kentucky, who is a partner in a large wholesale business in Cincinnati. Mr. Huerkamp died in 1904 and his wife died in 1902. Bernard Huerkamp, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in Germany, and received a good common-school education in that country. He came to this country with his parents when 25 years of age. After landing at New York, they spent one day in that city and then located in Cincinnati, where they remained for about six months. Our subject was unmarried when he came t0 Mercer C0unty, and located on his present farm which he purchased, and his parents made their home with him the rest of their lives. He has a well-improved farm and in 1893 he erected a fine, large frame house and a barn. Mr. Huerkamp is recognized as one of the township's most successful and prosperous farmers. Mr. Huerkamp was engaged in farming in Germany prior to coming to this country, owning a large estate of 900 acres. He contemplates taking a trip to the old country in the near future. Mr. Huerkamp was married in 1894 to Magdalene Rose, a daughter of Henry Rose. Mrs Huerkamp died September 23, 1906. The subject of this sketch is a man 0f enterprise and public spirit, and has always been among the foremost in the development of the interests 0f the community. He is a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church at Padua. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 675 PHILIP DE HAYS PHILIP DEHAYS, who owns 100 acres of land, 80 acres being located in -section 5, Rec0very township, and the remaining 20 acres lying in section 7, Washington township, was born on his present farm, in Recovery township, October 29, 1851, and is a son of Isaac and Margaret (Snyder) DeHays, and a grandson of William DeHays. William DeHays was born in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. After his marriage, he moved to Ohio and settled in Preble County, subsequently locating in Jay County, Indiana. He had four sons, three by his first marriage and one by his second, namely : Samuel, Briggs, Isaac and Joseph, who is now a resident of Findlay, Ohio. Isaac DeHays was born at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, April 7, 1822, and was reared on his father's farm. In young manhood he entered 80 acres of land in Mercer County, paying $1.25 per acre. This land, which is now owned by our subject, was then covered with timber. He cleared all this land And built a log cabin, in which he lived alone f0r a number 0f years. He was married in 1850 to Margaret Snyder, who was born May 12, 1832, in Champaign C0unty, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jesse Snyder, a resident of Adams County.- Mr. and Mrs. DeHays became the parents of five children, namely : Elmira who married John Isenhart, a leading liveryman at Fort Recovery; Mary, who married Adam Nearon, of Fort Recovery; Catherine, wife of David Money, of Montpelier, Indiana; Jesse, who married Birdie Robinson, of Van Wert, Ohio, and has one child, Georgia; and Philip. Mr. DeHays spent the remainder of his life on his farm in Mercer County, his death occurring April 11, 1890. His wife is still living and makes her home with her son, the subject 0f this sketch. Philip DeHays has spent all his life on his present farm. He has made many improvements on the place, and in 1884 built a fine large barn. The house in which he resides was raised in 1861 on the day Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated President of the United States. Mr. DeHays is engaged in general farming, raising principally wheat, corn and oats. He has never been married. He has served nine years as trustee of Recovery township, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He retired from the office in January, 1905. He also served one year on the Scho0l Board. FELIX METZGER FELIX METZGER, a successful farmer of Gibson township, who owns 240 acres of valuable and highly cultivated land in sections 35 and 36, was 676 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY born in Baden, Germany, January 14, 1836. He is a son of Anthony and Tillie Metzger, both natives of Germany. Felix Metzger spent his early boyhood days in Germany, and when 10 years old accompanied his parents to America, making the three-months' trip in a sailing vessel. They landed at New York and after staying there four days located in Richland County, Ohio, where the father of our subject bought a small farm, on which he lived until his death. Mr. Metzger was reared and educated in Richland County. In 1883 he sold a farm of 60 acres which he owned and moved to Mercer County. Here he purchased a farm of 160 acres situated in section 35, Gibson township, on which he made his home for many years, making many improvements, among which was the erection of a fine large barn. In April, 1902, he bought 8o acres adjoining his first farm and one year later built a fine large barn on the place; in 1905 he erected a frame house and moved on the place, renting the other farm. Mr. Metzger was married in 1866, while a resident of Richland County, to Mary Keeler and they have had four children, as follows: Rosa, who lives at home; Frank, Joseph and Anthony. Mr. Metzger and his family are connected with the Catholic Church. GEORGE F. HELLWARTH GEORGE F. HELLWARTH, one of the leading citizens and representative agriculturists of Hopewell township, the owner of the choice property known far and wide as the "Bonanza Farm," which is situated in section 28, belongs to one of the pioneer families of this locality. He was born in this township, March 5, 1849, and is a son of George M. and Margaret (Wappas) Hellwarth. The parents of Mr. Hellwarth were born in Germany. When they came t0 Mercer County, the father bought from the government a tract of forest land, upon which he settled and which he spent the rest of his life in developing. In his death, in 1866, it was generally conceded that Hopewell township had lost one of its most worthy pioneers. Prior to coming to Ohio, he lived three years in Pennsylvania, and in the '30s worked as a laborer on the National Road between Springfield and Columbus, Ohio. He served as township trustee and did much to assist in the early developement of all the township's resources. George F. Hellwarth was reared amid pioneer surroundings and secured his education in the little log schoolhouse of the district, in close proximity to his father's farm. His early training, as well as his inclinations, made him a practical farmer and he has given his main attenti0n through life to agricul- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 681 tural pursuits. This evidently has been to good purpose as his 240-acre farm has acquired a name indicating great resources. His methods have been directed along intelligent lines and all the surroundings 0f his beautiful home give indications that the owner and manager of this estate thoroughly understands and takes pleasure in his business. All the buildings on the place are substantial ones. Mr. Hellwarth enjoys the reputation of being a model farmer. On the 14th of May, 1886, a cyclone passed through our subject's neighborhood, and he with others suffered heavy losses, all his buildings being practically destroyed and several members of the family being injured. Mr. Hellwarth was united in marriage with Catherine Schmidt, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a daughter of the late Christian. Schmidt, of Hopewell township, Mercer County. To this union have been born four children, namely : Lorenzo D., Clinton C., Oscar and Edith M. For the past 29 years Mr. Hellwarth has resided on his present place and during this period he has taken an active part in the public affairs of Hopewell township. He has always been much interested in public education and on numerous occasions has served as school director in District No. 7. In politics he is a Republican and in 1905 was chosen by his party as its candidate for county commissioner. By reason of his high personal character, Mr. Hellwarth enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. GEORGE WASHINGTON WILLCUTT GEORGE WASHINGTON WILLCUTT, one of the substantial citizens and representative farmers of Union township, was born in Center township, Mercer County, Ohio, August 30, 1853, and is a son of Edward and Susan (Fox) Willcutt. Mr. Willcutt comes of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side and of Dutch on the maternal. His father was born in Portage County, Ohio, and died in Mercer County, in 1901, in his 71st year. The mother passed away in 1876, aged 53 years. They were married in Portage County but moved to Mercer County in 1850, settling in Center township, where the father purchased 80 acres of land and established the family home. Here the family of five children were reared; they were as follows : Louisa, born in Portage County, who married William Ballinger, and moved to the vicinity of Bluffton, Indiana, where she died, leaving a daughter; Emeline, born in Portage County, who married Joseph Ballinger, has five children and resides in Norton County, Kansas; George W.; Mary, a resident of Hoopeston, Illinois, who is the 682 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY widow of John Smith ; and Jesse, who married Elva Cook, lives on the home farm and is engaged in farming. George W. Willcutt spent his boyhood and youth in attending the district schools and working on the home farm. Agricultural pursuits have always claimed his attention and he is an experienced, practical farmer. In 1894 he purchased his present farm of 40 acres, which had been partially cleared. For some years, however, it had been rented to different farmer and was in poor condition. Mr. Willcutt soon remedied the mistakes of tho who had preceded him, made all the excellent improvements which now make it a comfortable home, and put the land under a fine state of cultivation. He has always been a hard worker. On March 3, 1881, Mr. Willcutt was married to Mary Belle Severns, a daughter of Frank and Amanda (Boroff) Severns. Mr. Severns was born near Sidney, Ohio, and his wife, in Union township, Mercer County. In h childhood, her parents moved to Iowa, but subsequently returned to Mercer County. Mr. and Mrs. Willcutt have five children, namely : Amanda Edith, who married Lloyd Prichard and resides in Van Wert County, where her husband is engaged in farming—they have two children, Lenore and Franklin Eugene; Lloyd, a teacher, now residing in Columbus, Ohio; Laura, who married Willard Roller, resides in Columbus and has one child, Ruth; and Ruth and Mary, both living at home. Although Mr. Willcutt takes no very active interest in politics, he always does his duty as a good citizen; He is identified with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Willcutt are both members of Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church in Union township. Accompanying this sketch is a group picture of the Willcutt family and a view of the Willcutt home. HENRY CLAY HENRY CLAY, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Union township, was born May 17, 1826, one mile from Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Mell) Clay, a grandson of John and Catherine Clay and a great-grandson of Mathias Clay, a native of Germany. John and Catherine Clay were the parents of eight sons and one daughter, namely: Mathias, Philip, Jacob, Nicholas, John, George, Henry, Christian and Mrs. Catherine Wax, the last named a resident of Pennsylvania. Henry Clay, the father of our subject, was born in December, 1796, in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and the mother, who was also a native of Perry AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 683 County, was born in July, 1799, both being of German descent. Mr. Clay was mustered into the militia in the war of 1812, the citizens having drawn lots for service, and for three months he was in the barracks at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. Clay was married in Perry County, Pennsylvania, where he remained for about six years after his marriage and then moved in 1832 to Wayne County, Ohio, where he died aged 40 years. In 1840 his widow and family moved to Mercer County and located in Dublin township on a farm of 160 acres, now known as the Perry Harris farm. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Clay, as follows : Adam, William, Levi, Henry, Hester, Emeline and John M. Adam, who was born November 12, 1819, and died in June; 1884, was a resident of Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, practicing law at Dayton. He served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1873. He married Sophia Dubbs and they had two children. William died February 12, 1876, aged 54 years, the day he was entering upon his second term as probate judge of Mercer County. He married Jane Rice of Pennsylvania and after her death married Catherine Krugh. Levi was born in August, 1824, and died in 1850. Hester was born December 22, 1829, and died in September, 1886; her husband, Henry Boroff, is also deceased. Emeline died in Wayne County, Ohio, aged four years. John M., who was born July 6, 1836, is a resident of Union township, Mercer County. Mrs. Clay remained in Mercer County, making her home with her son Henry until her death, which occurred in 1878 in her B0th year. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Mell, moved from Pennsylvania to Wayne County, Ohio, where the former died. His widow married a Mr. Messinger, who died in Indiana. She had one daughter by this marriage. Mrs. Messinger died in Wayne County, Ohio, at the advanced age of 98 years. Henry Clay, subject of this sketch, was six years of age when his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he lived until he was about 14 years old. His father having died, the mother then moved to Mercer County, where our subject has lived since he was 14 years old. He was married in 1857 to Sarah Ann Yocum, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Shelly) Yocum, who were natives of Pennsylvania. To them were born four children, namely : Mary Elizabeth, Stephen A., William Perry and Emma. Mary Elizabeth married James Agler and at her death left four children, as follows : Reuben J., Alice, Eva and Arthur. Stephen A. married Harriet Tingley, a daughter 0f John and Martha (Baltzell) Tingley and has two children : Ethel, who married Thomas Y,oungblutt, a resident of Lewisburg, Ohio; and Alwilda, who is in school. Stephen A. is a resident of Rockford and owns a farm near Rockford and also one in Union township. He resided for many years in Union township and is a successful business man as well as a farmer. His property is well improved with new houses and barns. William Perry, who 684 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY is a practicing physician at Convoy, Van Wert County, is a graduate of Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, has been engaged in the practice of medicine for some years and ranks high in his profession. His first marriage was with Mary Electa Sprain, from which union one child resulted—Henry. After her death, Dr. Clay married Elizabeth Tingley, a teacher of Cincinnati, and had two children—Grace and Edmund. His third marriage was with Mary Ellen Jones. Emma married Napoleon Bonaparte Boroff and resides in Van \Vert County. She has had three children, of whom two are livingJosie and Mabel. The second marriage of Mr. Clay was with Mrs. Lydia Yocum, a daughter of Mr. Barner. To them were born two children, namely: Ella E., who lives at home with her parents; and Viola Belle, who died aged 10 months. Mr. Clay is a Democrat in politics. He was made a Mason at Celina in 1862 and is the only living charter member of Shane's Lodge, No. 377, F. & A. M., at Rockford. He has beers a member of the Church of God for 46 years. BARNEY GRIESHOP 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 Helena (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 Barhorst ; 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 resided 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, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 685 a daughter of Henry and Mary Rutschlling, who were natives 0f 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 0f 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. JOHN M. CLAY JOHN M. CLAY, a representative citizen of Union township, owning 80 acres of excellent farming land which is under a fine state of cultivation, has been a resident 0f this county for 66 years. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 6, 1836, and is the youngest of eight children born to his parents, Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Mell) Clay. The Clay family is distributed over many. States of the Union and the father of our subject bore the same name as did Kentucky's great statesman, and in all probability the early stock was the same. The branch from which 0ur subject came, however, belonged in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and there the paternal grandfather, John Clay, lived and reared his family. The maternal grandfather, Adam Mell, lived in Pennsylvania until he moved t0 Wayne County, Ohio, where he died. Henry Clay, father of John M., was born and married in Pennsylvania, but moved to Wayne County, Ohio, prior to the birth of our subject. There he died aged 40 years, when John M. was two years 0ld. All the other children were born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, these being : Adam, deceased in 1885, who lived at Miamisburg but practiced law at Dayton—he married Sophia Dubbs and left a family of two children; William, who died just as he was entering upon his second term as probate judge of Mercer County—his wife was Jane Rice, and his second, Catherine Krugh; Levi, who died in young manhood; Henry, a venerable resident of Union township, born in May, 1826, who owns valuable farming lands in this locality he has been twice married and has four surviving children; Hester, deceased, who was the wile of the late Henry Boroff, of Dublin township—four of their children survive; and Emeline, who died in Wayne County, aged five years. When our subject was four years old, his mother, accompanied by her children, removed from Wayne to Mercer County and on May 1, 1840, located on a farm in Dublin township, a little southwest of where Mr. Clay now 686 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY lives. The family entered the land from the government, paying $1.25 an acre for the same, and here the children all grew to maturity. An uncle of our subject, Christian Clay, also settled in Mercer County, locating in Union township about this time. Pioneer conditions prevailed to a large extent when Mrs. Clay and her family came to this part of Mercer County. The older sons took charge of the farm while John M., the youngest, had his education to secure. He first attended subscription schools and he recalls that for two quarters he was a pupil under a full-blooded Indian teacher, a man who had been reared and educated among the whites. Later, district schools were established and, although sessions were then only held during three months, the children of the locality during that limited period were very thoroughly drilled in reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic. He soon grew useful on the home farm and worked for his mother until his marriage, and by the month for neighboring farmers. After his marriage, Mr. Clay moved first to his brother William's farm, where he remained from the early spring until July, when he moved to his brother Henry's farm, which is now owned by Stephen Clay, and this farm h operated until the following spring, when he removed to the Branson Roebuck farm. After one year there, he moved with his family to his mother's house, where he remained for seven years, going then to the Henry Cisco farm, near Mendon, where he remained for two years, finally settling on his present farm where he has lived for the last 39 years. He has witnessed many changes in the country since first settling here and can remember when conditions of all kinds were very different. Very little land in this locality had then been put under cultivation and absolutely no draining had been done. In all that concerned the development and improvement of the township, Mr. Clay has always been an interested and public-spirited citizen. In 1856 he was married to Sevilla Baltzell, who was born in Dublin township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary Baltzell, who came here from Hamilton County, Ohio, some time in the '30's. Mr. Baltzell had cut timber where now stand some of the finest buildings o Cincinnati. He settled and partly cleared what is now known as the Nathan Frysinger farm in Union. township. He was born in 1790 and died in 1869 having served in the War of 1812. Mrs. Baltzell died in 1863. The three surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Baltzell are: Elias, who lives in Wisconsin; Benjamin F., of Petersburg, Illinois ; and Mrs. Clay. Mr. and Mrs. Clay had three children, namely : Francis Marion; William Henry, who died in infancy; and Adam H. Francis Marion married twice. He was born in 1863 and when he attained manhood married Sarah Ann Allen, a daughter of Justin Allen, of Union township. They had a large AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 687 family, namely: Orville, who is a teacher ; Harry, deceased; Clara, wife of Albert McBride, of Union township, and the mother of one child, Willard; Ota, who married Ira McBride, residing in Union township, southeast of Mendon, and has one child, Carl Ernest; Leroy, a youth of 15 years, residing at home; Norma, who lives with her grandparents; Homer; Earl; Arthur ; Edna; Beryl; Wilbur, deceased; and Lloyd, deceased. The mother of these children died in the fall of 1902. Mr. Clay was married (second) to Mrs. Ida (Daring) Norris, a daughter of Joseph Daring, 0f Union township. Adam H. Clay was born January 24, 1870. He married Ella Stump, a daughter of Joseph Stump, .of Union township, and they have six living children and one, Lela, deceased. The others are: Edith, Heber J., Ralph, Goldie Irene, Grace and Myrtle. These descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Clay are numbered with the most highly respected people of the northern section of Mercer County. They are all intelligent, enterprising and patrons of the public schools and hearty supporters 0f the church and promoters of moral movements in their communities. In political affiliation, Mr. Clay is a Democrat. While not an active one in the sense of seeking office for himself or others, he has always believed in the principles of the party and voted for them at the polls. In religious connection both Mr. and Mrs. Clay are consistent members of the Church 0f God. They are widely known throughout Dublin and Union townships and in all gatherings of old settlers they are more or less prominent. Their recollections reach so far back in the settlement of this rich section of Mercer County that their tales of the early days when forests stood on the land where are now rich farming fields and are located comfortable homes, many of which are in touch with electric lines and are visited by the rural mail carrier, are as interesting as any book of romance ever written. HENRY GRIESHOP HENRY GRIESHOP, one of the most highly respected citizens of Marion township, who owns a well-improved farm of 255 acres, enjoys the distinction 0f being the oldest continuous resident of the township, to which he came in childhood. Mr. Grieshop was born in Oldenburg, Germany, October 22, 1839, and is a son of John Henry and Helena (Sheper) Grieshop. The Grieshop family came to America in 1845 and lived 0ne 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, 688 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY 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 so tame that they) would come to the horse trough 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 0n 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) Rose 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 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 689 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, February 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 t0 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 C0unty has no very large contingent of negroes. BERNARD SCHLARMAN BERNARD SCHLARMAN, one of the representative farmers of Mercer County, 0wns 200 acres of fine land, 160 of which are situated in section 32, Granville township, and 40 of which are just across the road in Gibson township. Mr. Schlarman was born in January, 1840, at Rose Garden (St. Rosa), Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Engel (Beckman) Schlarman. The father of our subject came from Germany in young manhood, locating immediately in Mercer County, Ohio. He bought a farm near Rose Garden, soon married, and on that farm both he and his wife died. He had four children, namely : Bernard, of this sketch; Henry, who married Mary Herke, and lives on the old farm; and Frank and Mary, both deceased. Bernard Schlarman remained on the home farm until his marriage, when about 30 years of age, and then bought his present farm. At that time it was still wild land, heavily timbered. His first w0rk was to clear a place on which to erect his log h0use, which, in time, gave way t0 his present comfortable frame one. Mr. Schlarman has spent many years of hard work here, but now has a fine estate, which he successfully cultivates with the assistance of his three sons. Mr. Schlarman was married in 1870 to Anna Barbara Balmert, who was born in Lorain County, Ohio, July 8, 1853, and is a daughter of Philip and Barbara (Wise) Balmert. The parents of Mrs. Schlarman were born and married in Germany. After coming to America, they settled in Lorain County, where all their children were born. Later they removed to Mercer County, but subsequently sold their first farm to George Send and bought a 690 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY smaller farm and there they died, highly respected residents of their neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Balmert had five children, namely : Caroline, who married Valentine Riddlesberger and lives on the home place; Anna Barbara, wife of Mr. Schlarman; Joseph, wh0 has a reputation all through Mercer County as an expert bridge builder, who married Catherine Helens and lives at Burkettsville; George, a farmer in Mercer County, who married Theresa Daken; and John, a resident of Covington, Kentucky, engaged in railroad work, who married Elizabeth Billiman. Mrs. Schlarman was about 12 years old when her parents moved to Mercer County. Mr. and Mrs. Schlarman have three stalwart, manly sons, all of whom still live at home. They are: John, born August 27, 1877; Joseph, born May 16, 1879; and Henry, born July 4, 188i. They are well-educated young men and, in addition to farming, operate a threshing machine, owning the outfit. The family are members of St. Paul's Catholic Church, at Sharpsburg. AARON MORTEN LOWRY AARON MORTEN LOWRY, one of the largest landholders of Gibson township, owning 400 acres of valuable farm land in this township, as well as 80 acres just across the County line in Darke C0unty, was born in Jefferson County, New York, May 14, 1823, and is a son of Benajah and Philena (Grinnel) Lowry, both natives of New York State, who died in Gibson township, Mercer County. Aaron M. Lowry spent his early boyhood days in New York State, and when 15 years old accompanied his parents to Ohio. They located in Clark County, where they remained until 1860. Our subject remained in Clark County one year after the removal of his parents to Mercer County. While in that county he was engaged in carpentering for a number of years. In 1861, in company with his wife and two children, he moved to Mercer County and located 0n a farm of 80 acres which he had purchased in 1850. This land was all covered with timber, which has since been cleared; many other improvements have been made, including new buildings. Mr. Lowry was married November 1, 1854, in Clark County, Ohio, to Elizabeth A. Bireley, and they have had four children : William Henry, a sketch 0f whom will be found in this work; Lyman Leslie, living on the farm with his father, who married Elizabeth Ulner, a daughter of Daniel Ulner, and has one child, Zella; Sarah Elmaretta, who married Charles Hastings, lives in the State of Washington and has three children—Anna, Sherman and Eva ; and a child that died in infancy. In politics Mr. Lowry is a Republican. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 691 GILES PETER MURLIN GILES PETER MURLIN, a successful and enterprising farmer of Union township, residing on his farm of 120 acres in sections 33 and 28, was b0rn on the farm where he now resides, June 5, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Laura (Davis) Murlin. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Murlin, a native of Ireland, who moved to Kentucky in 1816, from the State of New York, after having resided a number of years in Ontario County. He married Sarah Doderer, who was of German descent and a resident of New York. They were the parents of 10 children—three sons, and seven daughters. The sons —Daniel, Abram and William—all came to Ohio and settled. Four daughters, among whom were Betsey, Caroline, wife of Milton Wright, and Mrs. Amos Barber, also came to Ohio. The three others, among whom were Mrs. Jane Burbey and Sarah (Mrs. John Rider), remained in Kentucky. Daniel Murlin was born in Ontario County, New York, December 28, 1798, and removed to Hardin County, Kentucky, in 186, with his parents. He became one of the pioneers of Union township, Mercer County. His first marriage was in 18[9 to Sarah Brown. Seven children were born to this union, namely : Adelaide, who married William Roebuck and resided in Union township until after the death of her husband, when she married the late Loomis Shanklin—she is now nearly 80 years old and resides with her daughter; Susan, about 80 years old, who married Justus Davis and has lived all her life in Center township; Albert, who lived in Auglaize County until a few years before his death, when he moved to Mendon, .where he received the final summons; Eleanor, who married Andrew Thompson and resided for a number of years in Center township, after which she moved with her husband to Iowa—both are now deceased; Theresa, deceased; John; and Pearly Ann, deceased, who was the wife of George Purdy. The second marriage of Daniel Murlin occurred in 1836, Laura Davis, a daughter of Samuel Davis, becoming his wife. Samuel Davis was born in Ontario County, New York, and later moved to Miami County, Ohio, coming in 1834 to Mercer County, Ohio, and settling on the northwest quarter of section 35, Union township, where he remained until his death in 1868. His wife; Laura (Spicer) Davis, who died in 1866, was a daughter of Samuel Spicer, who was born on the ocean. There were born to Samuel and Laura (Spicer) Davis, the maternal grandparents of our subject, the following children : Samuel, deceased; Laura, the mother of our subject; Justus, deceased; Carney, deceased; Mary, who married Albert Murlin; Eliza, who married Marshall Culver and died in Muncie, Indiana—Mr. Culver resides in Kansas. Daniel and Laura (Davis) Murlin had seven children, as follows : 692 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY William, deceased in August, 1865, who enlisted, in December, 1861, in Company D, 71st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Goodwin, who organized the company, and served until the close of the war; Jerusha, who married C. B. Collins, a prosperous citizen of Union township, July I, 1865, and died July 2, 1866; Mary, a resident of Columbus, Ohio, who is the widow of J. Phillips whom she married in April, 1865; Samuel, who was among the fortunate when the oil boom reached the section of Auglaize County where he owned and operated a farm, and who is now retired, living at St. Marys, where he has built a home; Giles Peter, the subject of this sketch; Eliza, who married John Moore and resides in Center t0wnship, and Josephine, who died aged four years. Daniel Murlin died in 1875 at the age of 77 and his wife died in 1878, aged 62 years. Giles P. Murlin has lived all his life on the farm where he was born. He received his education in the township schools, working on the farm during the summer and attending school in the winter. There was but little land cleared when Mr. Murlin began assisting with the work, and there were but few houses on the road to St. Marys. The farm was situated on one of the old Indian Trails and there was a bark shanty on the place which had be built by the Indians. Mr. Murlin was married December 2, 1882, to Susan Barber, a daughter of Warren and Sallie Barber, of Union township. Mr. Murlin has one chil Josephine, who married Alpha Miller, a native of Auglaize County, on November 26, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children, Dwight Murlin and Clayton Leon, and reside with the subject of this sketch. Mr. Murlin has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 44 years: He a Republican, but reserves the right and privilege to support the best for office. Mr. Murlin is a man of pleasing address and stands high in t estimation of his fellow-citizens. JOHN JUTTE JOHN JUTTE, a prosperous farmer of Recovery township, who resides on his well-improved farm of 100 acres in section 1, was born in Washington township, Mercer County, Ohio, February 27, 1853, and is a son of Theodore and Catherine (Flotamas) Jutte. Theodore Jutte and his wife were both born, reared, educated and married in Germany. They came to the United States in 1846, locating in Washington township on a farm of 80 acres which Theodore bought from father, Henry Jutte, who had come from Germany in 1844, and had purchased chased 80 acres of timberland in Washington township. The land which AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 693 Theodore Jutte bought from his father was all timberland, which he cleared and built a log cabin on the place. The forest was inhabited by game of all kinds, including deer, wild turkeys, wolves, etc. Mr. Jutte experienced many hardships incidental to pioneer life. Theodore Jutte died in Washington township, September 7, 1887, and his wife survived him until August 6, 1890. They were the parents of six children : Mary, wife of Samuel Jacob, residing in Uniontown, Washington; Theodore, who resides at Genesee, Idaho; John; Bernard, who lives in Recovery township; Peter, who died in Uniontown, Washington, aged 46 years; and Philomena, who died aged nine years. John Jutte was reared in Washington township, and received such an education as could be obtained in the period of his youth. Mr. Jutte moved to Recovery township immediately after his marriage, and located on his present farm, which then consisted entirely of timberland. He has made many improvements upon the place and now has one of the best improved and most highly cultivated farms in the township. Mr. Jutte was married November 3, 1875, to Hannah Whitman, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Penter) Whitman, and has eight children, as follows : Catherine, who married Joseph Post of Jay County, Indiana, and has three children—John, Ferdinand and Minnie; Minnie, who married Jacob Wikle, of Washington township, and has four children—Emma, John, Henrietta and Albert; Barney, who married Elizabeth Homan and has three children—Mary, Theodore and Edward; John, who married Lizzie Custer; Peter; William; Clara, who died aged eight years, and Mary, who married Frank Post, of Washington township, and had three children—William, Clara (who died aged two years) and Matilda. Mr. Jutte is a prominent Democrat of Recovery township, and has served on the Democratic County Central Committee twice and has also served on the School Board. He is a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. XAVIER RENTZ XAVIER RENTZ, an old and highly respected German citizen of Butler township, and the owner of one of the best improved farms of this locality, consisting of acres of splendid farming land, was born in Germany, December 2, 1830, and is a son of Anthony and Agnes (Baumgartner) Rentz. When our esteemed subject was one year old or a little more, his parents embarked on a sailing vessel with the expectation of being safely landed on American shores. The vessel, however, proved unseaworthy, and they suffered shipwreck and clung to the vessel for a day and a half after it foundered on a rock before they were rescued. They lost all their possessions but were 694 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY thankful to escape with their lives and were subsequently landed in safety at Charleston, South Carolina. The family lived some years at Greenville, Darke County, Ohio, before they came to Mercer County, in 1847, and settled at Chickasaw, where the father followed his trade of tailor. Xavier Rentz was about 17 years old when he became a farmer in Marion township, Mercer County. Subsequently he acquired a farm of 235 acres, which he has recently deeded to two sons, August and Anthony. In 1895 Mr. Rentz settled on his present farm which is 0perated by his son Henry, who is a very capable and careful farmer. Xavier Rentz married Barbara Fecher, who was also born in Germany, and they have had 12 children, of whom six are now living, as follows : John, Theresa, Anthony, Anna, August and Henry W. Of those that are deceased, the eldest son, Joseph, died aged six months, and August (the first of the name) died aged three and a half years. Xavier died aged two months and Mary died. aged 3y years. Frank is also deceased. Joseph (2nd), another deceased son, was a most promising young man, who had been carefully educated. After teaching school at Kenosha, Wisconsin, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he became assistant city treasurer. He afterwards went to the State of Washington, where he took up a claim of 160 acres. Later still he engaged in partnership with a Mr. Passemeyer, in the grocery business at Tacoma, Washington, of which city he became a prominent man. He served as organist in the Catholic Church there. He died at Tacoma, December 16, 1891, at the age of 26 years. John Rentz, the eldest surviving son, has been an instructor in a large Catholic school at St. Paul, Minnesota, for the past 25 years. He is a talented and well-educated man ; he was first a pupil at Chickasaw, spent one year at St. Mary's Institute at Dayton, Ohi0, and completed his education at St. Francis, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He married Mary Rosenberger and they have four children, all of whom are well educated; Hilda, the eldest, is librarian of the St. Paul Public Library and in addition is organist in the Catholic Cathedral. Theresa is the widow of Barney Mestemaker, of Chickasaw, and the mother of four children. Anthony married Mary Heyne and has 13 children. Anna married Andrew Stammen and lives at New Weston, Darke County. August married Anna Rose, lives on the farm he purchased from his father and has six children. Henry W. was born at Chickasaw, Mercer County, Ohio, January 29, 1874. He was reared and educated at Chickasaw and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. On April 27, 1899, he was married to Elizabeth Pleiman and they have five children, as follows: Matilda, Rosa, Urban, Joseph and Arnold. Henry W. Rentz is treasurer of the township School Board. Xavier Rentz has been for years a leading member of St. Mary's Cath- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 695 olic Church at Philothea and has reared his family carefully in the precepts of this church. Both he and his son Henry W. are wardens in the church, and Mr. Rentz also fills the office of treasurer. He has always been interested in the educational progress of his community, has given his children excellent advantages and for 25 years was a member of the School Board in Marion township.   RICHARD SEVERNS RICHARD SEVERNS, a prosperous farmer and one of the leading citizens of Union township, where he owns a fine, well-improved farm of 140 acres, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, March 15, 1844, and is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Duffy) Severns. The parents of Mr. Severns came to Ohio from Virginia and located in Shelby C0unty, but later moved to Mercer County and settled on the farm in Union township, that is now owned by Joseph Severns. It consisted of 160 acres. Both parents died on this farm, the father in 1879, at the age of 79 years; the death of the mother followed later. Joseph and Catherine Severns had eight children, as follows: Franklin, deceased in 1900, whose widow, Mrs. Amanda ( Boroff) Severns, is a resident 0f Union township; Mary, who married J. M. Hussey and resides in Union township; John, who died unmarried; Margaret, who first married Joseph McNicol and is now the wife of Milton Denison, living at Spencerville, Ohio; Francis, who died in the army in 1862, unmarried; Richard; Joseph, residing on the old homestead, who married Martha Jane Griffin, a daughter of Claudius and Elizabeth Griffin; and William R., who lives in Union township, near Mendon. Richard Severns was eight years old when his parents, in 1852, came to Union township and settled in what was practically the forest. He remained on the farm assisting in the work until August 31, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, 118th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Kennedy and Lieut. I. B. Robbins. The regiment was attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division, 23rd Army Corps, and was mustered in at Camp Lima. His service was in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama and at the time of the closing of the war he was in North Carolina. He participated in many battles, including Nashville, Franklin and Dalton and went through the Atlanta campaign. He vividly recalls the battle of Franklin, one of the notable ones of the war. For four months he was never out of the sound of cannonading. He was 0nce struck with a spent ball and on one occasion a bullet struck the rim of his hat. On one occasion he was in a detail of 20 skirmishers of whom 13 were killed or wounded while on this duty. Mr. Severns' brother Francis was a member of the 46th Regiment, Ohi0 Vol. Inf. Mr. Severns is one of 696 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY probably 25 survivors of the old regiment, who have earned and enjoyed the admiration. and gratitude of their fellow-citizens. Mr. Severns was honorably discharged on June 24, 1865, at Salisbury, North Carolina. After the close of the war, Mr. Severns returned to Mercer County, where he has ever since resided. In 1873 he purchased the farm on which he resides, 30 acres of which had been cleared, and has completed the clearing of all but 10 acres. In 1878 he erected his handsome home and later his substantial barn and has made many improvements which make this one of the attractive homes of Union township. He carries on mixed farming and raises some stock. In addition to a natural fertility, the farm is also valuable on account of several oil-wells having been developed on it. In April, 1869, Mr. Severns was married to Mary Gross, who was a daughter of Peter and Mary Gross, of Union township. To this union were born two children, namely : Etta L. and George, the latter of whom died at the age of three months. Etta L. married J. H. Tomlinson, a farmer of Union township, and has five children : William, Olga, Gayle, Orril and Mary. Mrs. Severns died in 1882. Mr. Severns was married (second), in January, 1886, to Annie Moler, who is a daughter of Abraham and Martha Moler. They have one child, Edna. Politically, Mr. Severns is identified with the Democratic party. BENJAMIN HELLWARTH BENJAMIN HELLWARTH, a representative agriculturist and well-known citizen of Hopewell township, resides on his well-improved farm of 160 acres, situated in section 21. On this farm he was born, February 18, 1854, being a son of George M. and Margaret (Wappas) Hellwarth, both natives of Germany. George M. Hellwarth served six years in early manhood in the German Army and then emigrated to the United States, in 1831. Three years later he entered land from the government in Hopewell township, Mercer County, Ohio—the present homestead of our subject. In clearing, improving and cultivating this farm, George M. Hellwarth spent his whole subsequent life, which closed about 1865. He was a most worthy man in every relation of life. He was one of the early members of the Evangelical Association in his locality. His political views were in accord with the tenets of the Democratic party. Benjamin Hellwarth was reared to manhood on his present farm and in boyhood attended the district schools. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and in addition to the home farm owns 160 acres of land in Indiana. When he reached man's estate, he married Lena J. Will, a native AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 699 of Hopewell township and a daughter of George Will, a Civil War soldier, who was an old settler here but did not long survive the hardships of army life, dying soon after his return from the service. Mr. and Mrs. Hellwarth have four children, as follows : Ronello Blaine, Richard Garfield, Ray McKinley and Arlen Roosevelt. The family belong to the Evangelical Association. In political sentiment, Mr. Hellwarth is an ardent Republican and an active supporter of its candidates and a firm believer in its principles. He is one of the township's most successful farmers as well as most public-spirited. citizens and enjoys the esteem, respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. LEWIS PLATT 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 (Stein-miller) 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 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 Couny, 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 October 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 and at Gallatin, Tennessee, on December I, 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 difficuty 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,