USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
ERDINAND ELLERBROCK. - In the little village of Glandorf, Ger- many, in September, 1826, was born Bernard Ellerbrock, who, when twelve years of age, was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Ottawa town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, where his mother, now at the advanced age of ninety -eight years, still lives. She is comforted in her old age by four sons and two daughters: Bernard; Theo- dore, a farmer near Leipsic; Ferdinand, onr subject; William, a farmer in Ottawa town- the same township. and Kate the wife of J., was born August 23, 1865, and is the wife . Fred Franke, of Glandorf. Bernard received
-
164
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
a part of his education in the fatherland. He was reared on a farm and learned the brick- maker's trade. About 1855 he married Kate Schinpke, and located in Greensburg township, where he farmed and ran a saw-mill. Here he remained four years and then moved to Ottawa township, where he still lives. Their marriage was blessed with ten children: William, now living in Jackson township; Kate and Barney, both deceased; Mary, the wife of Joe Oppenheim, who is a teacher in Indiana; Ferdinand, a farmer of Ottawa, Ohio; William, also a farmer in the same township; Lizzie, married to Henry Clerman, of Greensburg township; Theodore, Thersa and Emma, all deceased. His wife died in 1872, and he married Mary Stackshult in 1874. He is a member of the Glandorf Cathi- olic church, a democrat in politics, and held the office of township trustee several terms.
Ferdinand Ellerbrock was reared on his father's farm and received a common-school education in Greensburg township. In 1879 he moved to the present place with his brother William, where they lived alone and farmed until May 4, 1886, when he married Lena Smeltzer, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in October, 1860, the daughter of Otto and Katherine (Runser) Smeltzer, who after- ward moved to Allen county. To this happy marriage were born six children: Frank, who died an infant; Daniel, who died at the age of four months and twenty-one days; Barney, born January 16, 1890; George, born May 26, 1891; Charley, born April 15, 1893; Otto, born November 23, 1894. and died Sep- tember 11, 1895. After their marriage they moved to the place where they now reside, where he has prospered, and is respected by his neighbors. He is industrions and enter- jonsing; he and his wife are members of the Kalida Catholic church, and in pohties he is a stanch democrat.
ENRY ERHART .- In 1801, in Baden, Geninany, in the beautiful valley of the Rhine, there was born Barney Erhart, who was reared on a farm there and given an education such as his par- ents were able to give, and when a young man he came to America and worked as a day- laborer in Detroit and Toledo. In the latter city he married Harmonica Harcourt, who was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1813, and had come to America alone when a young woman. After their marriage the settled on a farm in Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, which he had bought and improved. Here eight children were born to them, viz: Andrew, a prosperous farmer of Ottawa town- ship; Henry, the subject of our biographical sketch; Mary, deceased wife of Joseph Fry; Joseph, of Union township; Rosa, married to H. Kalf of Glandorf; Lizzie, the decease + wife of T. Miller; Annie, deceased, and John, of Jackson township. On this admirable farm, where their family was born, the parents con- tinned to live and prosper until death called them away, the father in 1883 and the mother in 1873. Both were faithful members of the Catholic church and were respected and es- teemed by all. In politics Mr. Erhart was a democrat.
Henry Erhart, second son of Barney and Harmonica, was born in Ottawa township, Putnam county, on December 3, 1843 and was reared on his father's farm and given a good education in the German schools of Ottawa township. In 1865 he married Ber- nardine, the daughter of Barney and Annie Marie (Hagaleman) Barlager, Bernardine Barlager was born in the township in 1845, and as she grew up was given a good educa- tion in the schools of the neighborhood. For two years after their marriage the young couple remained on his father's farm, and then moved to the place where they now live; this * had
.-
٤
165
OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
purchased, and he now set to work clearing off the heavy timber and removing the stumps. After many long hard days' work he could see his labor being rewarded. He now has a fine farm, which he has improved and keeps in a fine state of cultivation, on which he has built good buildings, the signs of a prosperous and careful farmer. In politics he is a democrat, and has held the office of township trustee and other local offices. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic church and have been blessed with eight children, viz: Frank, born March 18, 1866; Caroline December 3, 1867; William, December 12, 1871; Mollie, No- vember 8, 1873; Lizzie, February 19, 1877; Manie, March 1, 1880; Cornelia, January 1, 1884; Francis, August 21, 1887. Mr. Erhart is a progressive and industrions farmer and is highly esteemed and honored by his neighbors, attends carefully to affairs at home and is willing to assist in all worthy enterprises.
J OHN W. ERNST, the accommodating `proprietor of the leading livery barn at Continental, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Monroe township, Allen county, October 1, 1864. His grandfather, Henry Ernst, was a native of Germany, and an early pioneer of 'Carroll county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming all the later years of his life, dying in the faith of the Methodist church, and in politics a democrat. David Ernst, son of Henry and father of John W., our subject, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1831, was reared on his father's farm, and agriculture was his life-long pursuit. He married Mary Jane Seibert, in Carroll county. This lady was born in the last-named county in 1836, was a danghter of Samnel Seibert, and bore her husband the following children: Samuel B., Sarah, Oliver A., Saloma, John W., Daniel C., Simon A., Burton H., William and Mary
B. After marriage David Ernst settled in Allen county, and from that county enlisted in defense of the flag in the late Civil war. After filling out his term of service he returned to Allen county and resumed farming and land trading, and also engaged in stock-raising- a vocation he followed to the end of his days. He accumulated a comfortable competence through his own exertions, and being very do- mestic in his habits, devoted all his time to his family and home, and died in July, 1892, a consistent member of the Methodist church, which he invariably assisted with his means; in politics he was a stalwart democrat. His widow is still residing on the old home farm, respected by all who know her, and devoted in her adherence to her deceased husband's relig- ious faitlı.
John W. Ernst was reared on his father's farm, and was an able assistant to his parents until he reached his majority. He received a very good common-school education, and about 1887 engaged in the livery business at his present stand. Through his affability and obliging disposition he has made his establish- ment very popular, especially with the com- mercial public, and this popularity is sustained by his always being prepared to meet the de- mands usually expected at a first-class estab- lishment of this character. The marriage of Mr. Ernst took place September 11, 1892, to Miss Mary E. Varner, who was born in Put- nam county, Ohio, a daughter of Isaiah Varner, and this union has been blessed by the birth of one child-George F. Mr. Ernst is a dem- ocrat in his politics, has served as a member of the town council, and is at present a mem- ber of the school board. Beside his busmess place, which he has made so popular, Mr. Ernst owns a neat modern village residence and a productive farm of forty acres in Putnam county, for the purchase of which every dollar has been made through his own industry. Mr.
.
166
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Ernst is well and favorably known throughout the county and has a wide circle of sincere friends. He has always been public spirited, and has never hesitated to aid with his means any project designed to benefit the general community.
..
a YRUS EYER, a substantial farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, and a son of John and Abigail (Wellover) Eyer, was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, October 7, 1837. By a foriner marriage John Eyer was the father of four children, viz: Mrs. Adesta Hamilton, of Kalida; Mrs. Jane Piercy, of Van Wert county; Mrs. Lavina Dicus, wife of William Dicus, of Union township, Putnamn county; and a boy that died in infancy. To the second marriage of John Eyer, which occurred about 1833, three children were born, viz: Charity, wife of John Parcels, of Kalida; Cyrus, whose name opens this sketch, and Jacob, also of Kalida.
Cyrus Eyer was chiefly reared on his fa- ther's farm in Franklin county, Ohio, whither his father had removed from Fairheld county, and in Putnam county, where the family set- tled in October, 1853. He was married, October 7, 1866, to Mary E. Jeffrey, a daugh- ter of James and Sidney Jeffrey, of Kalida, to which union were born seven children, viz: Jolin, George, Charles, Katie, Albert, Russell, and Paul. Mrs. Eyer was born in Warren county, Ohio, May 23, 1851. After his mar- riage Mr. Eyer settled on his present farm, where he is still actively engaged in his voca- tion. In politics he was formerly a democrat, but is now a stanch prohibitionist. For over thirty years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a devoted member, and both are held in the highest estimation, not only by their
fellow-members, but by the community at large. Jacob Eyer, brother of Cyrus, was a gallant soldier of the late war, having served three years in company 1, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry.
Cyrus Eyer, although earnest in the advo- cacy of his political principles, has never sought to promote them through the means of office holding on his own part, preferring to leave the drudgery and honors of office to others.
HILLIP FEICK (or Fike, as the name has been Anglicized, is a prominent and enterprising young farmer of Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio, and was born in Hesse-Darmstad, Ger- many, December 20, 1835. At the age of thirteen years he came with his mother to America, remaining for a short time only in Sandusky, Ohio, and then moving to Crawford county, Ohio, where the mother bought a small tract of land, on which she and her fam- ily lived until 1852, when she sold out and brought her family to Putnam county, where she purchased a tract of 140 acres of wood- land, built a cabin and unproved a farm. In 1854 Phillip Fike began to learn the carpen- ter trade, which he followed until 1879 made his home with his mother, and in the latter year married Miss Martha J. Wynekoop, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 23, 1839, a daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Snyder) Wynekoop, natives of Pennsylvania, who located in Stark county at a very early period, and about 1846 moved to cilboa, Putnam county, where Mr. Wynekoop followed his trade of carpenter up to old age, and then engaged in farming until his death in 1876. To Mr. and Mrs. Wynckoop were born sleven children, as follows: Martha J., now Mrs. Phillip Fike; William F., of Missouri; Alissa
167
OF PUTNAM . COUNTY.
V., wife of Jacob Fike; Sarah E., married to Nathan Wallace; John W., real estate agent in Seneca county, Ohio; Mary, wife of Ira L. Harmon. of California; Isaac M., merchant at Kieferville, Putnam county, Ohio; Viola A., wife of A. Phillips, of Gilboa, Ohio; Charles, at Kieferville, Ohio, and two infants that died unnamed. The mother of this family out- lived her husband about fifteen years, dying in 1891
Jacob and Margaret ( Varnauf ) Feick were the parents of our subject, Phillip Fike. Jacob was a tailor by trade, also owned a small piece of land in Germany and hired it farmed. He died in his native province in 1847, at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving a widow and eiglit children, all of whom came to America together. These children were named as fol- lows: Margaret, who married John Ross, both of whom died, leaving eleven children; Catherine, wife of Jacob Wright; Fred, who served through the late Civil war; Phillip, our subject, Andrew, also a soldier of the late war ; Jacob; Peter, who was killed in the Civil war, and George. The mother of these children, who was born in 1806, after undergoing all the hardships of a pioneer life in this country, lived to see her children grow to maturity, and all, excepting the deceased soldier, well settled in life-her death occurring in 1886.
To our subject and wife have been born three children, as follows: Cora L., wife of J. E. Campbell, a mechanic of Toledo, Ohio; George A., a farmer of Putnam county, and William A., now in San Antonio, Texas. After his marriage Mr. Fike, in 1859, moved to Gilboa, where he followed his trade until 1868, when he bought eighty acres of his present farm, all in timber, built a cabin, and continued to work at his trade, hiring his clearing done. He bought his first horse m 1873, had some farmnig done as a starter, and eventually settled down to the calling himself,
with most satisfactory results. He has in- creased his possessions to 160 acres, of which 120 are all cleared, ditched, tiled and under a good state of cultivation; he has a commodious two-story modern frame dwelling, a fine sub- stantial barn and suitable out-buildings-all of his own construction-and a good wind-pump; he also has a good tenement on his premises, which are but two and a half miles from Leip- sic. His home is one of the most pleasant and comfortable in the township and is the result of his own industry and good manage- ment. He also owns a lot in Leipsic, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Van Buren township.
DWARD G. FISHER of Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in the year 1832. His father, Thomas Fisher, was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and was born in isit; the father of Thomas, named Thomas F., was also a native of Lincolnshire, and all were substantial farmers and stock raisers. Thomas F. Fisher the grandfather, married Matilda Wilson, and to them were born Edward, Mary and Thomas. Both parents were members of the Episcopal church and died in that faith in their native home. Thomas, their youngest child, was edu- cated in the common schools and was reared on a farm and adopted farming as a life occu- pation. In the year 1839 Thomas married Ellen Booby, a daughter of George and Eliza- beth Booby, and Edward G., whose name heads this sketch, Mary, deceased wife of John Watkins, Thomas and George, deceased, were the children born to them. The mother was an English woman, was born in Cambridge- shire about the year 1812, and her parents were natives of that county. The father, Thomas Fisher, was a well-to-do and highly
168
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
respected farmer and a communicant of the established church. He was a member of Ancient Shepherds and held in high esteem by his brethren. His death occurred in 1851.
Edward G. Fisher spent his early years on a farm and also learned the trade of tile and brickmaking. Mrs. Fisher, his wife, was Elizabeth Beagle, a daughter of Charles and Priscilla (Raisin) Beagle, and was born in Cambridgeshire, England; four children blessed this union, as follows: Mary, wife of James Shannon, of Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio; Charles, living on the homestead in Greensburg township; Edward, also on the home farm; and Rebecca, wife of Frank Shirey, of Greensburg township. The mother, Elizabeth (Beagle) Fisher, was born Septem- ber 26, 1834; her parents were both of Cambridgeshire, England, the father's birth oc- cnrring March 17, 1811, and the mother's April 2, 1812. Mr Beagle was a butcher by occu- pation and a man of sterling qualities. He died November 15, 1851, and the mother in 1874, both members of the established church of England.
Four years after his marriage Mr. Fisher, with his family, sailed for America, with a view of regaining his health, which was seriously impaired. Arriving in New York city, they came to Lorain county, Ohio, where for ten years he followed the business of stone-mason, and then, in 1870, came to Putnam county and purchased a tract of unimproved land, on which his present comfortable home now stands. They cheerfully endured the many privations of pioneer life, built their house of logs, cleared the land, and in the course of time, by industry and excellent management, found themselves pleasantly situated in the new world. Mrs. Fisher is a member of the United Brethren church and Mr. Fisher is a liberal contributor to any good and worthy cause. He is a devoted member of the I. O.
O. F., a democrat in politics, a good neigh- bor, a worthy citizen, and withal a man of fine, sterling, commendable qualities -- is gen- erous and public spirited, and no good or worthy cause suffers from his neglect. It is such men that have made Greensburg town- ship pre-eminently good.
0 ANIEL M. FOLTZ, one of the well- known citizens of Columbus Grove, Ohio, and a leading hardware dealer, was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 3, 1844. His parents were Jacob and Sarah (Liverode) Foltz, the father having been a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. From Stark county they removed to Cuyahoga county in 1846, and settled on a farm in Independence township, and there the mother died in 1858. After the death of his wife, Jacob Foltz followed various callings in different parts of the country for a number of years and died at Burning Springs, West Va., about 1885. To the parents eight children were born, only four of whom are now living.
Our subject was reared on the farm in Independence township in Cuyahoga county, and attended the common district schools. After his mother's death he began life for him- self by entering his uncle's dry-goods store at Independence. He was next with an anche who was a coal dealer a Massillon, Ohio, with whom he remained up to the time of the late war. In 1860 he came to Putnam county and joined his father, who was engaged in the milling business close to Leipsic. In Angust, 1861, at Ottawa, he enlisted in comp. ny I, Forty-ninth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until December, 1865, being dis- charged from the service as regimental quarter- master. He was made corporal upon em ring the service and soon afterward was promoted
¥
J. G. FORD.
MRS. J. G. FORD.
171
OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
sergeant, then orderly sergeant, then second lieutenant, and then first lieutenant and finally regimental quartermaster. He held a captain's commission but was never mustered in as such. After leaving the service he returned to Ottowa and engaged in the milling business at that place with his father. For over twelve years he continued in the milling business at different points in Putnam county, spending nine of these years in Leipsic. He then went on a farm near Columbus Grove, where he remained seven years. In February, 1881, he came to Columbus Grove and engaged in the hardware business with J. M. Crawford, under the firm name of Crawford & Foltz. This partnership continned for about nine years, since which time Mr. Foltz has been in the same business by himself.
Mr. Foltz was married near Gilboa, Put- nam county, 1868, to Isadore Kline, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio. To their union four children have been born, as follows: Emma Belle, who died at the age of five months; Della, who died at the age of twenty - two years; Mae and Dora. Miss Mae is a graduate of the Columbus Grove schools. She was also, for a time, a student at Ada, Ohio. She has taught school in Columbus Grove and neighborhood for a mimber of years. Miss Dora graduated from the Columbus Grove school, after which she attended college at Wooster, Ghio. She graduated from the Western university at Evaston, Ill, in 1894, is now a student at Oxford, and during vacation conducts classes in elocution. Mr. Foltz and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the G. A. R. and National Union. He served one year as trustee of Sugar Creek township, and in 1895 was elected treasurer of Pleasant township. Mr. Foltz is in politics a republican and he and family enjoy the respect of the entire community in which they reside.
LDER JONATHAN GILLIS FORD, of Jennings township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a son of Joseph and Phebe (Kibbey) Ford, was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 28, 1823, and was brought by his parents to Putnam county in Septem- ber, 1834, the year after the county was organized. Here he grew to manhood among the pioneers and shared with thein all the pri- vations and hardships of pioneer life. His education was acquired in the frontier log school-house, as a supplement to that which had been given him in Warren county, and he was thus tutored during the winters until he reached his eighteenth year. He labored man- fully on the home place, doing much to redeem it from the wilderness, until his marriage, February 12, 1846, at the residence of her father in Kalida, with Miss Marinda Hicks, who was born, October 21, 1825, in Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of Ezra and Julia L. (Lincoln) Hicks, who came to Putnam county in the spring of 1835, and settled on 160 acres in the woods of Union township.
After his marriage, Mr. Ford, with his wife, lived with his mother for a year, and then rented land near Gomer, and in March, 1848, settled on forty acres he had purchased the previous year in the wildwoods. £ Here he erected his cabin, cleared off the land and developed a splendid farm, increased, in after years, through his own labor and that of his children, to 200 acres, now the pride of the surround- ing country. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, Ezra, the second in order of birth, died at the age of forty-five years, and the youngest, John James, died in infancy. Sarah Ann Roher, the second wife of Mr. Ford, was born February 27, 1846, near Springfield, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Mumia) Rohrer. Daniel Rohrer was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and when a young man came to Ohio
-
172
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and located in Clarke county, where he fol- lowed his trade, that of a blacksmith, many years. He and wife were parents of thirteen children, viz: Mary E., Sarah A., Jacob C., John H., David W,, William J., Frank P., Samuel, Susan C., Charles, Emma J., and two that died in infancy, Mr. Rohrer came to Jennings township, Putnam county, in 1858, and bought 120 acres of land in the forest, of which he succeeded in making a beautiful home. Mr. Rohrer was instantly killed by a falling tree, November 19, 1866, when but forty-eight years of age.
Mr. Ford has been a preacher in the Pre- destinarian Baptist church for many years, and is now pastor of two charges-Sugar Creek and Darby Run, and during the last eleven years has traveled over 18,000 miles in the exercise of his clerical duties. In politics he is a democrat, and has served several terms as township trustee. He is naturally a promoter of all educational enterprises. He is the father of sixteen living children and of two that have passed away, and it may be well surmised that the living ones have been reared "in the way they should go." To nine of them he has given $600 each on starting in life. At the risk of some slight repetition, we present here, in full, the gene- alogy of the Ford family, as prepared some years since by the reverend and venerable sub- ject himself.
GENEALOGY OF THE FORD FAMILY. - About the year of 1774 or 1775 three broth- ers ( young men ), by the name of Ford, the christian names of only one of whom is now remembered, namely, Richard, came from England to America and settled in Virginia --- or Maryland. One of them married, and soon after all three brothers enlisted in the Revolu- tionary cause, joining the same company and enduring the hardships and privations of a long and tedious war together.
-
At the close of the war Richard settled in Delaware, married Mary Gillis, and had five children born to him by her, viz: Henry, November 15, 1780; Elijah, August 6, 1782; Jonathan, June 12, 1784; Amelia, June 10, 1786, and Joseph, March 2, 1797.
Mary, wife of Richard Ford, died January 18, 1808. About a year after her death Richard started with his family to Ohio, and was killed on the road by being run over by a wagon. Henry was married to Susanna Arm- strong in 1805, and had seven children. He died July 7, 1839, and his wife died January 12, 1859. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, born June 8, 1806, and married to Adam Simington; Mary, born March 11, 'SOS, and married Isaac Cochran; Susanna, born August 7, 1810, and married John E. Bell; Richard, born October 28, 1812, and married Cintha Ann Ludlum; Amelia A., born March 1, 1815, and married Nathan Snook; Henry, born May 2, 1817, and married Dorcas Coburn, and James A., born July 11, 1819, and mar- ried Mary Jane Simington.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.