A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 107

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In 1857 Mr. Reinkens married Carrie Shwenkeur, a native of Germany, who had come to New York previous to 1864, which was the date of her arrival in Franklin county. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reinkens: Edward, who married Sarah Rubensburg and has two children,- Herbert and Mabel; Frank; Henry, deceased; William, who married Louisa Reinkens; Charles, who married Effie Lanerd and has three children, -- Helen, Esther and Effie; Carrie, who married Frank Meeker and has one son, Ed- ward; and Emma and Hattie.

Mr. Reinkens is a stanch Republican in his political faith, and takes an intense interest in the important issues of the day. He has always been a strong advocate of all educational laws looking toward the betterment of all classes, and is particularly interested in the common schools. He is one of the old, tried and true members of the Methodist church, valued and respected. His help was freely given toward the erection of the Livingston avenue church edifice. Mrs. Reinkens was removed by death, in 1887, since which time Mr. Reinkens has been much comforted by his estimable children.

AUGUSTUS S. RITTER, M. D.

The unostentatious routine of private life, although of vast importance to the welfare of the community, has not figured to any great extent in the pages of history. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves by the possession of those qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence of those around them should not be permitted to perish. Their example is more valuable to the majority of readers than that of heroes, statesmen and writers, as they furnish means of subsistence for the multitude whom they in their useful careers have employed.

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Such are the thoughts that involuntarily come to our minds when we consider the life of him whose name initiates this sketch. He was born in Pickerington, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 5th of December, 1865. His parents, Ira and Elizabeth J. (Doty) Ritter, are both natives of Ohio, and the former is a farmer by occupation. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, nine of whom are yet living. The Doctor's early youth was passed upon a farm, while in the district schools of the neighborhood he obtained his elementary education. Subsequently he attended Reynoldsburg Academy, where he studied for more than two years, thus fitting himself to teach. For four years he followed that profession in Fairfield and Franklin counties and was a successful and popular educator. On abandoning his efforts in that direction, however, he began reading medicine under the supervision of Dr. J. E. Berry, a well known physician of Pickerington. Later he continued his studies under Dr. O. P. Driver, of Basil, Ohio, those two gentlemen being his preceptors for three years. He then matriculated in the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, where he pursued the full course prescribed by the statutes of the state and was graduated on the 5th of March, 1891. He was also graduated in surgery at the same time he received his diploma in medi- cine. Immediately thereafter he established an office in the suburban town of Milo, which was just then springing into existence on the outskirts of Colum- bus, the Doctor being the first physician in the place. Here he has since re- mained and by the strictest attention to the discharge of his professional duties he has built up a practice which has steadily increased with the pass- ing years and is now very lucrative. His business extends into the rural regions north and south and he is now recognized as one of the leading mem- bers of the medical fraternity.

Dr. Ritter was united in marriage to Miss Allie M. Stoltz, of Perry, Ohio. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a liberal supporter. He also belongs to Olentangy Lodge, I. O. R. M., also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to Ohio Camp, No. 3735, M. W. A. While well known and highly respected in social circles, the Doctor gives the greater part of his time and attention to the practice of medicine. He is a close student of materia medica and therapeutics and keeps in touch with the best professional thought of the day.

DANIEL F. ROBERTS.

The history of an industrious, useful life is always interesting and it always contains lessons of value to those who would get on in the world. Such a life has been that of Daniel F. Roberts, a prominent farmer and leading citizen of Brown township, Franklin county, Ohio, some adequate account of which it will be attempted to place before the readers of this work.

Daniel F. Roberts was born July 12, 1851, a son of Lewis and Rachel (Richards) Roberts. His father was a native of Wales, born July 4, 1818,

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a son of Ellis and Catharine ( Pugh) Roberts, who came to New York city in 1824, bringing their family with them. There Ellis Roberts died and in 1835 his widow brought her children to Ohio, and settled on one hundred acres of land in Brown township, Franklin county, which her husband had owned at the time of his death. Mrs. Roberts died on that little Ohio farm in 1846. Catherine, the eldest of the family, was twice married, first to Thomas Thomas, later to Thomas Evans, and died in New York city. Lewis, next in order of birth, was the father of the subject of this sketch. David left Ohio and is supposed to have died in some remote part of the country. Ellis died in Brown township. Susanna, who became Mrs. Arthur Arnold, died in New York. John P. ended his days in Franklin county, Ohio. Lewis Roberts, who was born in Wales, in 1818, was four years old when his parents came to America and was educated in New York, where he lived until, in his eighteenth year, he came with his mother to Brown town- ship. The woman who became his wife was Rachel Richards, whose par- ents, William and Mary ( Williams ) Richards, married in their native Wales. Mr. Roberts conducted a hotel at Rome, Ohio, for five years, and except for that brief interval, passed his whole life after his marriage on the home farm of his family in Franklin county, where he was prominent as a Demo- crat. a Baptist and a citizen and filled with great credit several responsible local offices. His wife, who died June 16, 1889, bore him children as follows : David William, of Columbus, Ohio, married Rebecca Drake and after her death Minerva Hemrod became his second wife. John Ellis died when only nine years old. Mary Catharine married John Samuel Daugherty, of Frank- lin county, Ohio, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Lewis died when twenty-six years old. Daniel F. is the immediate subject of this sketch. Richard died when sixteen years old. Susan died when in her nineteenth year. John died at the age of twenty-six years. Margaret died when twenty years old. Sophia and Hannah, who were twins, died in infancy; and another child, named Margaret, died when two years old.

In the spring of 1852, when the subject of this sketch was not yet a year old, his parents removed to their home farm in Brown township, from Rome, Ohio, where the father had been keeping a hotel for five years and where the boy had first seen the light of day. Young Roberts grew to manhood there and attended school at the Welsh school house until he was eighteen years old, working on his father's farm, mornings and evenings, Saturdays and during vacations. He helped to clear up a large part of the farm on which he remained until two years after his father's death, making a clearing of twenty-five acres after that event. Then Mr. Roberts and his brother John began working one hundred and thirty acres of the home farm and they were partners until the death of John in 1882. By an agreement between the two sons and their mother, she left them her interest in the farm, of which Mr. Roberts became sole owner in consequence of his brother's death. He located at his present home in 1883, where he has a large red brick house and ade-

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quate barns and outbuildings, and is making a substantial success as a farmer and stock raiser. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is influential in local affairs, and for three years has ably filled the office of township trustee. He is a member of the Grange, of West Jefferson, Ohio, is a Knight of Pythias and a Mason, blue lodge and Eastern Star degrees, and is a consistent and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married August 24, 1882, to Miss Angeline Carter, a daughter of George Carter, of Jefferson township, Madison county. Ohio, and has four children,-named Asa David, Henry Raymond, Elsie and Laura Mabel.

ANTON WITTELER.

Independence, self-reliance, industry and integrity and good business judgment have all been factors in the success of Anton Witteler, a native of Prussia, who came to Columbus, Ohio, respectably attired and with fifty dol- lars in cash, refusing money which was offered him by relatives in his native land and, overcoming many obstacles, made a good name for himself at Colum- bus, in Marion township and throughout Franklin county, where he is known as a man of property and a citizen of high standing and absolute reliability.

Mr. Witteler was born July 7, 1830, and received a good education and was taught farming. It was in 1857, when he was twenty-seven years old, that, declining money which might have been his and assuring his friends that he was amply able to make his own way in the world, he sailed away to the United States and after landing on American soil came at once to Franklin county, Ohio. For three years he worked by the month for "Sim" Lindsey, in Hamilton township, and after that he rented a farm and operated it on his own account. In 1865. while he was still farming rented land, he bought some city property on Main street, Columbus. In 1878 he bought a farm in Marion township onto which he removed in 1879 and which he still owns. In 1890 he bought thirty-eight acres where he has lived since 1900. He sold off much of this property, but retains four acres on Parsons avenue in Colum- bus, where he erected a fine residence, costing five thousand dollars or more, which he fitted up in modern style at considerable expense and furnished in a way to correspond to the outlay mentioned. He owns a farm of eighty-five acres in Marion township and another of one hundred acres in Pickaway county. These two farms he rents, giving his attention to building and other business interests. He has from the start been what is termed a successful man, but his prosperity has not been without some setbacks, for he has at different times signed his name to help others and has had to pay thousands of dollars in consequence. His interests in Columbus have grown gradually until he now owns property in nearly every part of the city.

Mr. Witteler has never married. He is a Democrat well known throughout Franklin county and his influence in local politics is recognized. While he is not an office seeker, he has been prevailed upon by his fellow citi- zens to accept some township offices and he filled several in Hamilton town-

ANTON WITTELER.

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ship and was for eleven years treasurer of Marion township. A man of much public spirit, he has been helpful to all measures which in his good judg- ment have tended to the general good and he is consulted whenever sound advice is sought as to the conduct of township affairs and to the development of important local interests.

GEORGE MICHAEL KARRER.

Much has been written and spoken concerning the value of the sturdy, industrious, thrifty and reliable German element in our population, but the best proof of its excellence is afforded by its representatives, who, like the subject of this sketch, develop into self-made men of the best type who may be depended upon by the country of their adoption in any emergency that may arise. George Michael Karrer, a prominent farmer of Washington township, Franklin county, Ohio, is a son of John George Karrer, and a grandson of John Karrer, both of whom were born in Germany, the latter in Hoffenheim, province of Baden, in April, 1793.

John George Karrer attended school until he was fourteen years old and after that he was employed at farm work. At the age of nineteen he was con- scripted into the German army in which he fought against Napoleon. He married Catharine Horch, an aunt of John F. Horch, a biographical sketch of whom appears in this work, and became a farmer. He died in 1871, his wife in 1868. They had children named as follows: Susan, who married John Waibel, and lives on her father's old homestead in Germany; Jacob, who died in Germany; John, who came to the United States with his brother George Michael, married Miss Becker and became a farmer in Clay county, Illinois, where he died in the spring of 1900; and George Michael, who is the immediate subject of this sketch.

George Michael Karrer was born on his father's farm in Hoffenheim, province of Baden, Germany, October 25, 1833. As soon as he was old enough he was put in school, where he remained until he was fourteen years old. During the succeeding six years he worked on his father's farm. When he was twenty years old, he was drafted into the German army, but managed to secure a release from military service and in the follwing spring, with his brother John and four other young men, he sailed from Havre, France, for the United States, on the sail vessel, Southern Johnnie, com- manded by Captain Small, and arrived at New York after a voyage of thirty- seven days with little money left after having paid his passage. From New York city he went to Buffalo, New York, and for a week visited in the family of his Uncle Peter Horch, who was a ship builder in that city. From Buffalo he came on west to his uncle Abraham Horch's place in Washington town- ship, Franklin county, Ohio. Soon afterward he began to learn the black- smith's trade with Charles Fogelsang, at Dublin, Franklin county, with whom he remained two years. After that he was for one year a partner with John Steinbower in a blacksmithing enterprise and later worked two years in a

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blacksmith shop in Columbus, until he located at Dublin, where bought prop- erty, built a shop and did business successfully as a blacksmith for eighteen years, until 1876, when he bought his present farm of eighty-seven acres in Washington township, Franklin county, on which he located in March, 1877. He also owns another farm of sixty-seven acres. His residence was erected in 1897.

Mr. Karrer is a member of the German Lutheran church at Sandy Corners and in politics is strongly Republican. He was married in October, 1858, to Miss Mary Fahrbach, who was born in Baden, Germany, December 4, 1840, and when eight years old came to the United States with his parents, Jacob and Eva ( Ruck ) Fahrbach, landing at New York, and coming thence to Columbus, where her father died and her mother still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Karrer have had children as follows: John, who died young; Kate, who married Lewis Rings, of Washington township, Franklin county; Jacob, who died when a year and a half old; Mary, who married Godfrey Hurst, of Norwich township, Franklin county; George M., who married Barbara Ring and lives in Washington township, Franklin county; Lena Caroline, Henry, and Carl, who are members of their father's household; and Louisa, who is deceased.

FRANK A. ZIMMER.

The subject of this sketch, a prominent citizen of Washington township, Franklin county, Ohio, is one of the leading farmers' and dairymen in that part of the state. He was born on Scioto street, Columbus, October 16, 1849, a son of John F. and Christina (Widner) Zimmer. His grandfather in the paternal line visited many parts of the world as a sailor and eventually located in Brazil, where he owned a large plantation and many slaves and where he died. His widow, whose maiden name had been Margaret Zimmer, after his death married, in South America, a man named Schlumberger, who also died in Brazil. By her first marriage she had one child, John F. Zimmer, father of the subject of this sketch. By her second marriage she had two children, Adeline and Margaret Schlumberger, who are now Mrs. Jacob Lang and Mrs. Paul Lenhert, respectively.

John F. Zimmer was born in Brazil September 16, 1817, and was about nine years old when, after the death of his stepfather, his mother brought her three children to Cleveland, Ohio. He was obliged early to take up the battle of life and was able to attend school only two months, but he had a desire for knowledge and studied with good results during his spare time. He became a foreman in canal construction in Ohio, and was so employed for some years. Eventually he located in Columbus, where for twenty years he was engaged in draying with such financial success that the business gave him a good start in life. Meantime he formed the acquaintance of Ebenezer Barcus, of Columbus, and as partners they were for eight years engaged in pre- paring sugar-cured hams for the market. After that Mr. Zimmer continued

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the same business successfully for twelve years. After that he was for five years a partner in the lumber business of Clark Monnette & Company, at the expiration of which time he retired from active life. He lived on Mound street between High and Third streets for forty-three years, and his residence at 66 East Mound street became one of the landmarks in that part of the town.

John F. Zimmer was married, at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Christina Wid- ner, a native of Germany, whose father died in her native land, and who came to the United States with her mother and sisters. Mrs. Zimmer, who died in May, 1900, in her eighty-seventh year, bore her husband children as' follows : Mary married Adam Scheringer and died at Columbus, Ohio. Christina A. is an inmate of St. Mary's convent at Columbus. John William died at the age of sixteen years. Henry A. is a farmer of Franklin county, Ohio. Frank A. Zimmer, subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth. Louisa died quite young. Joseph B. is a well known citizen of Colum- bus. Katie G. married Joseph B. Ruhl, of St. Louis, Missouri.

Frank A. Zimmer was early put in a parochial school in Columbus, and attended the public schools from the time he was thirteen until he was six- teen. After leaving school he was for a year a clerk in the wholesale dry- goods house of Green, Joyce & Company, of Columbus, and after that he was for seven years a salesman for the Ohio Furniture Company, of that city. December 1, 1875, he located on his present farm, which now embraces two hundred and sixty-two acres of well improved and highly productive land. On this place he built a creamery, which is conceded to be one of the best equipped in Ohio, and he has a large number of fine Jersey cattle. He has built two silos on his farm for feeding his stock, the dimensions of each of which are sixteen by thirty feet, and each of which has a capacity of one hundred and twenty tons, and he feeds the corn raised on forty acres. He is building a barn exclusively for his cows which covers a ground space of forty-eight by eighty feet, and has a cow shed covering a space of fifty-six by one hundred and seventy feet, and will soon erect another of the same dimensions. He has forty red Jersey cows of the purest blood. He is the owner of three other creameries besides the one on his farm-one at Milford, Ohio, one at Plain City, Ohio, and one at Woodstock, Ohio-and they are connected with each other and with his home by telephone. He is a helpful, public-spirited citizen, an unswerving Republican and a member of the Holy Cross Catholic church, of Columbus, Ohio. He has seven children. The eldest, John William, manages his Milford creamery. Josepha, Estella, Henry A., Francis George, Sylvester and Edward are members of their parents' household.

ADAM LENHARDT.

Among the worthy citizens that the fatherland has furnished to the new world is Adam Lenhardt, a practical and enterprising farmer living on sec- tion 2, Hamilton township, Franklin county. He is a native of Bavaria,

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Germany, born August 18, 1831. There he spent the first twenty-three years of his life, and in the common schools acquired his education. His father died when the son was but fourteen years of age, after which he continued to live with his mother until he came to the United States in 1854. Cross- ing the Atlantic, he landed at New York, and subsequently removed to Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed for about a year, receiving four dollars per month in compensation for his services. He then came to Franklin county, and in Hamilton township again worked by the month as a farm hand, being thus employed until 1861, when he entered upon an independent business career by farming upon his own account on rented land. When seven years had thus passed he removed to Shelby county, Illi- nois, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, continuing its operation for about three years, when he traded that property for the farm upon which he now resides. He then returned to Franklin county, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Hamilton township. He owns one hundred and ten acres of valuable land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and the well-tilled fields bring to him an excellent financial return. He is well-known over the county, and is accorded a place among its substantial farmers. Diligence, energy and determined purpose have been the salient features in his prosperity and are qualities that all might cultivate.

In his political views Mr. Lenhardt is a Democrat, and has served as committeeman in his township, but has never sought nor desired office, pre- ferring to give his entire time and attention to his business affairs. In the spring of 1900 he crossed the Atlantic to his native land, spending part of the summer in revisiting his old home and renewing many of the acquaint- ances of early life. For many years he has been a member of the Grange, and in his adopted county Mr. Lenhardt is widely and favorably known.

CLARK HARRIS.

One of the several honored citizens of Marion township, Franklin county, Ohio, who, natives of the township, had pioneer experiences within its bor- ders, is Clark Harris, who was born September 30, 1839, in the house in which he now lives. His father was Origen Harris and his grandfather was James Harris and both of them were born in the state of New York. James Harris came with his family to Columbus, Ohio, early in the century just closed and for some time busied himself at hauling goods between Columbus and Zanesville with an ox team, but he eventually settled on land in Marion township, Franklin county, which he cleared and improved. Origen Harris was only a boy when his father came to Franklin county, and he attended the primitive school taught near his home in a log school house. He married a Miss Ferguson, of Columbus, who died leaving three children. all of whom are dead. His second wife was Lydia Sellers, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Henry Sellers, an early settler in Franklin county. After his second marriage he settled on the farm on which his son, Clark Harris, now

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lives, where he died at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-six. This worthy couple had eight children, seven of whom were born on that farm and seven of whom are living at this time. Morris H. Harris, one of these, lives at Westerville, Franklin county ; Lucinda lives with her brother Clark. Origen D. lives near Groveport, Franklin county. Lydia Ann married Wesley Lawrence and lives in Franklin county. Sarah is the wife of Jacob Boeshanz, of Columbus, Ohio. Julia is the wife of Jacob Strohmire, of Columbus.

Clark Harris was the third child and second son of his parents and was reared on the farm on which he now lives, and received his primary educa- tion in an interesting old school house which stood near his home, one of the first of its kind built in the county. He assisted his father in his farming until the latter's death. October 6, 1868, he married Emma Young, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and she died on the old Harris homestead Septem- ber 6, 1882, after having borne him two children, one of whom, Edna, died at the age of eighteen years. His daughter Della, who is a member of his household, acquired a good education and has been successful as a teacher.

Mr. Harris owns forty-two and a half acres and devotes himself to general farming, while giving a good deal of attention to stock. He is a Republican politically and has served his fellow citizens as a member of the township school board, in which capacity he exerted a recognized influence for the improvement of local educational facilities. While an active worker for the success of the party of his choice, he does not hesitate to vote for a member of another party for a local office if he believes that such a candidate will administer it more efficiently and honestly than the Republican nominee. His public spirit has been many times tried and has never been found want- ing, and he aids to the extent of his ability every measure which in his good judgment promises to benefit his township and county.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156