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 16
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Mr. George has been engaged in numerous business enterprises, but has never ceased giv- ing his attention to his farming interests. He has met with some reverses, especially in the way of paying off securities. Running a brew- ery at Ottawa was also an enterprise in which he met with a disastrous loss by fire. In 1891,
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a hardware store in Belmore, each father, or principal, placing a son in charge. Mr. George also owns considerable residence property in Belmore, but devotes his attention chiefly to his farm. He raises all kinds of live stock, grading up his beef cattle for the home market, and owns a full-blooded Norman Clyde stal- lion. In politics Mr. George has always been a democrat, and has served two terms as just- ice of the peace, six years as county commis- sioner, and in 1880 was land appraiser. He has, beside, filled a number of minor offices. In religion he is a member of the United Pres- byterian church, while his wife is a devout member of the Evangelical church.
After a residence of forty years or more in America Mr. George visited his native land, and found two brothers and a sister still living, but in circumstances such as he thought he could improve. The brothers and sister had large families, and to rear children in the old country is an expensive task, so Mr. George brought them all to this country, gave the eld- ers a start, and they now have good homes in Henry county, within two miles of the home- stead of their generous brother, in whose behalf they can rise up and say, "Blessed be brother John."
A DAM GETTMAN, a prominent farmer of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, born December 13, 1831, and is a son of Peter and Dorothea (Hays) Gett- man, the former of whom was a famous schoo !. teacher, a profession he followed until his dying day-teaching in one place for thirty-seven years. There were born to him ten children, of whom our subject is the only one to come to America, and two died young. The names of the survivors are Elizabeth, Henry (who has succeeded to his father's school), Clara,
Adolph, Adam (our subject), Katherine, Louis and Alford.
Adam Gettman received a good German education under his father and was early ap- prenticed to the shoemaker's trade, but at the early age of sixteen years volunteered in the Revolutionary army of 1848-49, his com- mander being Franz Sigel, who was afterward a general of distinction in the Union army during our late Civil war. Mr. Gettman was taken prisoner at the surrender of Fort Restal by the German forces, and with 17,000 others was confined 143 days in the above-named fort, but succeeded in making his escape and in reaching New York city July 16, 1850, with no money. The captain of his ship, however, succeeded in procuring employment for nim at his trade, and after working in New York eleven months he traversed the states as far west as Iowa, but finally located in Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, and followed his trade until the outbreak of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the Ninetieth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland. His first battle was at Rich- mond, Ky., then at Chickamauga, and so on through all the important engagements up to the battle of Nashville, where he helped to exterminate Hood's hordes. His only injury was sustained by being thrown over the bank of the Chattahoochee river, the mishap still causing him to suffer in one of his legs. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tenn., when he re- turned to Somerset, Ohio, where he had some property and where he had left his family.
The marriage of Mr. Gettman took place in Somerset, Ohio, about 1857 to Mrs. Agnes Stevens, a widow with one son, whom Mr. Gettman reared to manhood, and who is now a farmer near Lima, Ohio. Mrs. Gettman was a daughter of Galus Smith, a native of France, where Mrs. Gettman was also born,
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and the family came to America when the latter was about four years of age, and settled in Perry county, Ohio, where Mr. and Mrs. Smith ended their days, leaving five children, viz: Lena, Anthony, Frank, John and Agnes. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gettman were born eight children, viz: Mary, married to James Kidd, a farmer; William, a farmer of Putnam county; Lizzie, who was married to George Pope, to whom she bore three chil- dren, and after his death became the wife of William Jones; George, a farmer; Agnes Rosecrans, wife of A. Jerry, also a farmer; Clara, wife of John Emmons, of Putnam county; Samuel, still at home, and Louie, married to Edward Carr, of Putnam county. The mother of this family died a member of the Catholic church, March 20, 1888, since which sad event Mr. Gettman has remained single.
Upon his return from the ariny, Mr. Gett- man sold his property in Somerset and moved to Fairfield county, where he resided nine years on a farm, then sold out, and in March, 1875, came to Putnam county, and bought the 120-acre farm on which he now lives, of which fifty acres had been cleared and partially put in cultivation. The tract, however, looked more like a swamp than a farm, but Mr. Gett- man undertook the task of draining with wooden tile, in which he made a perfect suc- cess, and was, indeed, among the first in the township to resort to this system of drainage; however, as soon as baked tile made its ap- pearance, he discarded the old and adopted the new system, and has now fully 105 acres drained and under a highly arable condition. His dwelling is a fine two-story modern frame, and his barn and other out-buildings are of the most substantial and approved construction. His farm is on the pike between Ottawa and Columbus Grove, three miles north of the latter place, being pleasantly and desirably
located. Mr. Gettman has gained his property through his own industry, skill and good inan- agement, assisted by his faithful wife, and of such sturdy and honest toilers the citizens of any community might well feel proud. In his politics Mr. Gettman has always been a re- publican, and has affiliated with that party ever since the Fremont campaign, and al- though he has served two terms as township trustee, he has never sought public office. He is honored by his neighbors for his own merits, and he deserves all the honor that is bestowed upon him.
R UFUS E. GILBERT .- The alert mentality and the sturdy, practical ability of the Irish race, as transfused into the make-up of our composite nation, have had notable influence in further- ing our progress and in establishing a stable prosperity, and to this element do we owe much. The subject of this review is one whose ancestral history traces back to stanch old Irish stock, which is of prominent identifi- cation with the history of the Union from the early colonial days, and of valiant service rendered not only in time of war but also in the more prosaic endeavors of the times of peace, our subject himself having shown his loyalty and inherent patriotism by unstinted service accorded in the late war of the Rebel- lion. The name Gilbert is of Irish origin, as already stated, and James Gilbert, the grand- father of our subject, maintained his residence on North Hero island, in Lake Champlain, N. Y. He married Ruth Conkey, who like- wise was of Irish extraction, and subsequently, during the war of 1812, removed to Shazees town, located on the shores of the same beau- tiful lake, and there James Gilbert remained until the time of his death. He was a Jack-
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sonian democrat, and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist church.
Jacob C. Gilbert, the father of our subject, was born on North Hero island, in October, 1807, and was reared to farm life, receiving a good practical education and putting the same to test by engaging in teaching, in which vocation he was employed at various points in the state of New York, and later in Ohio. In his native state he was united in marriage to Mandana Stoughton, the date of this ceremony being 1832. She died on the 3d of July in the succeeding year, and on January 1, 1838, Mr. Gilbert consummated his second marriage, in Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, where he was united to Martha A. Butler, who was born in New Haven county, Conn., December 16, 1820, the daughter of David and Betsey (Foot) Butler; the former of whom was born in New Haven county, Conn., October 2, 1772, and the mother in the same county, August 9, 1781, their marriage having been consummated in the same county. There they remained until 1829, when the family emigrated to Portage county, Ohio, where the parents passed the residue of their lives, being among the most honored pioneers of that county. David But- ler died March 29, 1856, his wife having passed away August 3, 1854. In their religious affili- ations they were Congregationalists, and in politics he was an old-line whig. Mrs. Gil- bert's grandfather, Matthew Butler, was a na- tive of England, and emigrated to New Haven county, Conn., in the early colonial days. He was an active participant in the war of the Revolution, serving in the continental army for a period of seven years. The maiden name of his wife was Ruth Lindley, and by occupa- tion he was a wheelwright. His son David also served in the war of the Revolution and stood as a minute-man in the battle of Long Island.
The children of Jacob C. and Martha A. Gilbert were in order of birth as follows:
Lucian and Lucius, deceased; Rufus E., the immediate subject of this review; Martha, de- ceased; Mary E., wife of Henry Wing; Ade- laid, deceased; Ida M., wife of David Owens, and Prosper L. After coming to Ohio, Jacob C. Gilbert was for six years engaged in iner- cantile business at Cuyahoga Falls, and after this located in Cleveland, where he was em- ployed as a traveling salesman for a period of three years as a representative of a wholesale paper house. In 1858 he removed to Monroe township, Putnam county, and here purchased a farm, and was prominently identified with the interests of his county until the time of his death, which occurred December 16, 1864. He was a stanch republican in his political proclivities, and was called upon to fill the office of township clerk. He was a zealous adherent of the Methodist church, in which he held for a number of years the position of steward. His venerable widow still retains her residence on a part of the old farm, in close proximity to the home of our subject, who accords her a true filial solicitude.
Rufus E. Gilbert, who holds distinctive prestige as one of the most intellectual and honored farmers of the township, was born in Summit county, Ohio, on the 21st of Febru- ary, 1844. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Cleveland and there remained for three years, during his youth. securing the exceptional advantages afforded by the public schools of the Forest City. In his early youth he accompanied his parents to Putnam county and assisted in the work of the pioneer farm, so that his memory reverts to the stirring inci- dents and manifold vicissitudes of that epoch in the history of the state. July 19, 1866, he lead to the-hymeneal altar Miss Mary A. Pope, a native of Putnam county and a daughter of George W. and Fanny (Weaver) Pope. Since their marriage our subject and his wife have retained their residence on the beautiful tarm-
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stead, to the cultivation of which Mr. Gilbert has devoted his attention with much intelli- gence and success for so many years. His farm comprises seventy-six acres, is equipped with a good residence and other buildings essential to the successful carrying on of op- erations. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are members of the Christian church, in whose work they take an active interest. In politics our subject is a democrat and has served as township clerk, and for six years as director of the county infirmary.
The military record of Mr. Gilbert is one which stands to his credit and honor. He en- listed, August 22, 1862, in company H, the One Hundred and Eighteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina and Virginia, participating in all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. He received an honorable discharge May 25, 1865, and returned to his home an honored veteran, and re-entered the peaceful pursuits of the " piping times of peace."
RANK GMEINER, a leading business man of the thriving little city of Ottoville, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Tyrol, Austria, December 3, 1853, a son of George Gineiner, one of the pioneers of Monterey township, and an ex- soldier of onr late Civil war, and of whom more may be learned from the sketch of Leonard Gmeiner, published below. Frank Gmeiner had attended school in his native land but two months, and had but little more than learned his letters, when his father de- cided to leave for America, and -accordingly embarked at Havre, France, with his family, mn: 1859, and after a voyage of thirty-two days !ogled in the port of New York, whence they Conte directly to Ohio, and here the father
purchased forty acres of land nine miles from Fremont, but all in the wilderness. He had barely succeeded, by hard work and indomit- able industry, in clearing up a farm, when he enlisted, under Capt. Antony Young, for nine months, in the Seventy-second Ohio volunteer infantry. His service, however, lasted ten months, during which he took part in the en- gagements at Memphis, Tenn., and Vicksburg, Miss., and received ar honorable discharge at the latter place at the expiration of the time mentioned. His active service was interrupted only by a short detention in hospital by chronic-diarrhea-otherwise he was constantly on duty: On his return to Fremont he sold his farm to a comrade. and in April, 1864, came to Putnam county and bought a tract of eighty acres in the woods in the northwest part of Monterey township. Here he first rented an old school-house as a -helter for his family, while he cleared away a space :: the woods for a log cabin, which, through the kindly assistance of his neighbors, wa. oon erected.
Frank Gmeiner, our subject, wa: but eleven years of age when the family settled in Putnam county, and was the sole assistant of his father, he being the eldest son, and the next son but five years old. Frank was, therefore, early inured to the hard work of clearing land and pioneer farming, and was thus employed on the home place until four- teen years of age, when he went to Sandusky county and began working out as a farmi hand for strangers. The father now bought forty acres adjoming the homestead, upon which Frank, from his earnings of $8' per month, made the first payment of $50, and lat met the whole cost, amounting to abont $200, through the same source. Frank cost med on working out and sending In varnings to his father, who saved then carefully. Mrs mei- ner, the mother of our subject, de parted this life
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sixteen days before the death of her husband, after a short illness of three days, and the demise of the latter took place from quick con- sumption, October 16, 1875, aged about fifty years; both were devoted members of the Catholic church. The father had so much confidence in the ability, stamina and integrity of Frank, that he appointed the latter executor of his will and administrator of his estate, and placed in his care the education of the younger children-and surely made no mistake in his selection.
The literary education of our subject was comprehended within the scope of three months by attendance at the common school of his district when .circumstances permitted; his training in the habits of industry and self- reliance was imparted by his father; and prob- ably the latter was the most effective, as Frank's natural sound sense would lead him to improve by self-application and to look for the acquirement of that knowledge which actual experience in the world might fail to bring. Frank, on the death of his father, in accord- ance with the latter's wishes, at once assumed the management of the homestead and the control of the family. and for five years' serv- ices in the performance of this duty he was awarded, by bequest, forty acres of land, and that he performed his duty well is evidenced by the fact that he became the owner of the forty acres aforesaid. At the end of six years Frank relinquished his charge and placed it in the hands of his youngest brother, Leonard, who was quite well educated and fully quali- fied for the task-the estate in the meanwhile having been duly administered by Frank and divided properly among the heirs.
In politics Frank Gmeiner is a democrat, and at the early age of twenty -two years was elected justice of the peace, which position he filled two terms; he was also appointed ad- ministrator of several estates -- among then ,
that of Joseph Dotson-and the guardian of seven children, whose interests were conscien- tiously cared for. He has beside served on the' school board and as supervisor. After leaving the home farm, Mr. Gmeiner ran a threshing machine two years, and then en- gaged in the tile business with Andrew Kehres and John J. Miller, and did a successful busi- ness for six years; next he went into the plan- ing-mill business with William Gasser and has since done a large business in all kinds of lum- ber and finishing supplies.
The marriage of Mr. Gmeiner took place at Ottoville January 7, 1893, to Miss Mary Mallifsky, who was born in Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, in November, 1855, a daughter of Martin and Mary Mallifsky, who were born near Pilsen, Bohemia. Martin Mallifsky came to this country in 1855 and frist located on a farm in Huron county, Ohio, whence he re- moved to Wyandot county, thence conting to Putnam cyunty. His family of children, six in number, were named Daniel, Mary, Charles, Kate, Elizabeth and Eva. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gmeiner are strict members of the Catholic church, and to the erection of the splendid edifice, St. Mary's at Ottoville. Mr. Gmeiner contributed at least $200 in cash. The life of Mr. Gmeiner has been one of practical industry, which, backed by a strict adherence to the principles of morality that have governed his acts since infancy, has resulted in a reward that might be envied by any man-that of the sincere esteem of all who know him.
EONARD GMEINER, the leading brick manufacturer :t Ottoville, Put- nam county, Ohio, is a native of the state. His father, George Gmeiner, was born in Tyrol, Austria, in . 821, was a car- penter by trade, and married Mary Ann Flatz, also a native of Austria, and born in 1825, the
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result of their union being six children, viz: Frank and Gebhart, who were born in Austria, and Mary, Leonard, Katie and George, who were born in America. In 1859 George Gmeiner, with his wife and Austrian-born chil- dren, came to the United States, and lived in Fremont, Ohio, until 1864, when he came to Putnam county and bought eighty acres of wild land four and a half miles northwest of Ottoville, worked hard, and, with the assist- ance of his two Austrian-born children, made a most pleasant home and increased the farm, by the purchase of forty acres, to 120 acres. He was devoted to his adopted country and was extremely public-spirited, doing everything in his power to aid the prosperity of his town- ship and county, and gallantly volunteering to protect the integrity of the national flag dur- ing the Civil war, in which he served ten months. He died on his farm at the age of about fifty-four years, and no man could have passed away more deeply mourned with heart- felt sorrow by family and neighbors than he.
Leonard Gmeiner, the gentleman with whom this memoir has chiefly to deal, was born at Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio, January 2, 1863, and was an infant when brought to Ottoville, Putnam county, by his parents. His education was that usually ac- quired in the district school, but he was an apt scholar and soon gained the knowledge neces- sary to carry him along successfully in business life. At the age of eighteen years he began carning his own living by working as a farm- hand in his own neighborhood, and at twenty years of age went to Grundy connty, Ill., and followed the same pursuit for five years. He thus earned sufficient funds to enable him to return, in the later part of 1888, to Ottoville, Obo, and buy an interest in the tile works of John J. Miller (see sketch as given on another page), with whom for three years he carried on a prosperous business under the firm-name of
Gmeiner & Miller; some change intervening, for two years Mr. Gmeiner carried on the busi- ness on his sole account. Mr. Gmeiner then sold out, and in 1891 engaged in the brick- making business with George Miller, brother of John J. Miller, under the firm-name of Miller & Gmeiner, but two years later Mr. Miller sold his interest to Mr. Gmeiner, and now our sub- ject is doing a most prosperous business for his own , benefit alone. He gives constant em- ployment to six or eight men, and burns about 500,000 building brick per year. In addition to his kiln Mr. Gmeiner owns a tract of land comprising forty acres, on which is a neat and substantial dwelling.
The marriage of Mr. Gmeiner took place at Ottoville February 5, 1891, to Miss Mary Miller, born January 1, 1867, a daughter of John and Mary Miller, and a mece of the Rev. Father Mueller, of whom men- tion has so often been made within these pages. Of course, it will be readily understood that the German name Mueller, or Muller, has been Anglicized, in correspondence with the pronunciation of the name, to Miller. to the union of Mr. and Mis. Gmeiner have been born four children, as follows: Ameha M., November 8, 1891; Ida Kate, December 7, 1892; Gertrude, April 15, 1894 (died August 30, 1894), and Olivia E., born July 6, 1895. As may well be supposed Mr. and Mrs. Gmeiner are members of the Saint Mary's Catholic church of Ottoville. In politics Mr. Greiner is a democrat, and was the marshal of Otto- ville the first year of its incorporation. He is truly a self-made man, without a flaw in his record, and has won the respect of his fellow- men through his straightforward walk in life and unwavering integrity. It will have been seen from the foregoing, that Mr. Greiner, although still a young man, has done much toward advancing the material prospe ty of his township.
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ICHOLAS GOETSCHIUS, deceased, a former well-known citizen of Ot- tawa, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, May 9, 1836, a son of James and Permelia (Smith) Goetschius, natives re- spectively of Columbus, Ohio, and Hagers- town, Md. The family is of German descent, and by occupation James Goetschius was a farmer. Nicholas Goetschius was reared and educated in Tiffin, Ohio, and early developed remarkable genius as a mechanic. In 1859 he came to Ottawa and opened a machine shop and foundry, with which he was con- nected for a number of years, and which eventually grew into the Ottawa Wheel works, one of the best enterprises ever started in the city. Mr. Goetschius was identihed with the manufacturing interests of Ottawa until 1890, at which rime he sold out and became one of the promoters of the Ottawa Electric Light company, continuing with the latter enterprise until his death. Mr. Goetschins was married in Tiffin, Ohio, to Louisa Morrow, daughter of Charles and Ann (Searls) Morrow, who were among the old and respected families of said city. Three children resulted from this mar- riage: Morris P., Charles (deceased), and Ida, wife of C. H. Rice. Mrs. Goetschius died May 20, 1871; her husband departed this life June 17, 1894. Mr. Goetschius was a prominent factor in the public affairs of Ottawa, having served for a period of about nineteen years as a member of the city council, beside holding other positions of trust, and it was largely through his efforts that Ottawa secured her present efficient fire department. He was a democrat in politics, a member of the F. & A. M., and a broad-minded, intelligent and progressive man of affairs.
parents on a farm near the city of Tiffin, where he remained until his sixteenth year. He graduated from the public schools May 18, 1882, and at once accepted a position with the banking firm of A. V. Rice & Co., which he filled two and a half years, and was then placed in charge of the Ottawa Gate Manufacturing company's plant at Ottawa as general mana- ger. After serving in that capacity mnost ac- ceptably for two years he went to Omaha, Nebr., where he remained for a limited period as book-keeper for a firm in that city, when he became associated as secretary and treasurer of the F. E. Sandern company, with which he remained identified until 1890 In the lat- ter year he disposed of his interests in the above enterprise, and, returning to Ottawa, secured the franchise and located the electric light plant of the city, of which he has since had full control. In 1893 the company was incorporated as a joint stock company, with a capital of $30,000, Mr. Goetschius being elected secretary, treasurer and general manager. In 1895 he purchased the transfer and coal busi- ness of Mr. Cartwright, which he now controls, and in various other ways is identified with the business interests of the city. Mi Goetschius is a young man in the prime of vigorous man- hood, and, judging by the past, there is still a sphere of enlarged usefulness for him in the future. Politically he is a democrat. He stands high in Masonry, belonging to Ottawa lodge, No. 325, Ottawa chapter, No. 115, and Putnam council, No. 69. He is also a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum.
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