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 21
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
land, eventually succeeding in securing a fer- tile and productive farm and a comfortable home, where his death took place August 23, 1867, in the faith of the German Reform church. In politics he was a democrat, and for a number of years served as township trustee, and was serving his second term as county commissioner at the time of his death. Mrs. Mary Henry, his wife, was also a mein- ber of the German Reform church, and died February 7, 1871, a truly devont Christian.
Charles F. Henry, our subject, was reared on the home farm and was educated in his native township. May 14, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Ann Swihart, who was born in Kosciusko county, Ind., Septem- ber 4, 1856. a danghter of Eli and Elizabeth (Gobel) Swihart. Eli Swihart was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent; was born February 25, 1820, and died August 23, 1863, having served as a soldier in the late Civil war. His wife, Elizabeth, was born July 3, 1829, and died November 12, 1878. To the union of Charles F. Henry and Lydia A. Swihart have been born seven children in the following order: Lewis, born September 10, 1875, died November 28, 1876; William, who died at the age of fourteen months; Cora Elizabeth, born January 11, 1878; Catherine Matilde, June 15, 1881; Maggie Washtella, May 9, 1886; Clar- ence Frederick, December 13, 1889; George Washington, July 23, 1892, and Benhla Violet, June 24, 1895. After marriage Mr. Henry made his home on the old homestead in Mon- terey township nutil 1883, when he bought his present place in Jackson township, which at that time was a wilderness. By hard work and the exercise of that skill for which he is still well known, he has cleared up his tract, in- proved it in all particulars, and has made it a farm of which any man might well feel prond. Mr. Henry and wife are members of the Ger- man Reform church at Delphos, and m politics
Mr. Henry is a democrat. He is very popular with his party, and under its auspices has filled the office of school director three terms, and has also served as supervisor. He is promi- nent in the affairs of the township, is public- spirited and always ready to lend a helping hand and subscribe from his means in aid of the advancement of the township's welfare, and enjoys the respect of all who know him.
J OSEPH HERMILLER, JR., of the firm of Hermiller Bros., dealers in grain, four, feed and stock, is one of the suc- cessful business men of Ottawa, Ohio, and a representative citizen of his native county, Putnam. He was born December 30, 1854, in Ottawa township, and is a son of Joseph and Clara (Recker) Hermiller-the latter deceased, but the former still living. The subject was reared to manhood on the home farm one mile south of Ottawa, and re- mained with his parents until he attained his majority, attending in the meantime the pub- lic schools, where he acquired a good English education. After working for a short time with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road company, he accepted a position with a Mr. Ewing, proprietor of the grain elevator at Ottawa. After Mr. Ewing's retirement from the business in 188. Mr. Hermiller entered the employ of the successor, J. F. Reed, with whom he remained until the latter's death, in December, 1882, the elevator at that time passing into the hands of Dr. Paul. Mb Her- miller continued as manager of the establish- ment until 1884, when, in partnership with his father, he purchased the business, which was conducted under the firm name of Hermiller & Son until 1893, the father retiring that year, and Frank Hermiller, a brother of our sub- ject, taking his interest After one year Prank Hermiller died and his brother john became a
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
partner with Joseph, and together they have since conducted the business in a most success- ' ful manner The firm handle from 80,000 to 100,000 bushels of grain per annum, and since 1893 have given considerable attention to live stock, being the heaviest purchasers and shippers in Putnam county. They buy for the eastern market, and also deal extensively in flour and feed, keeping in stock the celebrated Minneapolis brands. As a business man, Mr. Hermiller is zealous and ambitious, and suc- cessful in the fullest sense in which that term is usually accepted. During his career no act inconsistent with the strictest honor and integrity has ever been imputed to him, and he stands high, not only in business circles. bat among all classes of people as well. A democrat in politics. he has not been a par- tisan, and with the exception of serving as councilmin ol Ottawa has never held official position Mr. Hermiller was married May 27. 1884. to Miss Anna A. Bentler, daughter of John N. and Susan Rentler. Mrs. Hermiller was born October 23, 1858, in Lawrenceburg, Ind., and is the mother of four children- Clara, Joseph N., Mary and Oscar W. Mr. Hermiller and family are members of the Catholic church of Ottawa and are held in very high esteem by the community at large.
S USAN E. HERSHEY, the widow of of Abraham Hershey, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, March 7, 1841. Her father, David Murphey, was born in Kentucky April 3, 1793, and was the son of a Baptist minister, a native of Ireland. David Murphey was reared an a farm, and at the age of seventeen years he ran away from home and went into the army, serving in the war of 1812 for five years, and was badly wounded. He spent ove year as a prisoner among the Indians, having been taken captive by them near !
Niagara. He married and was blessed with three children: David, deceased, formerly of Jackson township; Mrs. Sarah Harris, who lives in Indiana, and Mrs. Nancy Groves, de- ceased, also of Indiana. His wife died in 1839, and he married Lucy, the daughter of Christopher and Sarah (Lancaster) Sroufe. After marriage he lived in Paulding county, Ohio, where his two children were born: Chris- topher, deceased, who served in the late war, was five years in company I, Fifty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, entering the service when fifteen years old, and Susan E, the subject of. this review. In 1852 he moved his family to Putnam county, to the farm where Mrs. Her- shey now lives. This farm had descended to her mother from her brother, Sebastian, who lost his life in the Mexican war On this farm her father lived until his death on October 1, 1865. In politics he was a democrat. The mother passed her last days with her devoted daughter until October 19, 1891, when death called her away. . She was a devoted Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty-nine years.
Mrs. Hershey was married February 23, 1861, to Abraham Hershey, who was born in Ohio April 17, 1835. His parents were Ben- jamin Hershey, of good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and Frances (Stiner) Hershey. Having been reared on a farm, he continued that calling, and after marriage settled on a farm in Putnam county, Ohio, where seven children were born to him, viz: Sarah Cora, formerly a teacher, but now the wife of Joseph Stemen, a farmer and veterinary surgeon of Jennings township; Flora Estella, wife of J. H. Kelkner, a railroad man of Delphos; Frances May, deceased: William D., a farmer of Jack- son township; George M .; James Clinton and Harlon B., all three of whom still live at home. The father was a democrat in politics, and was intrusted with numerous offices, being
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
township trustee and assessor for a number of years, also supervisor and school director. For twenty-four years he was a member of the the United Brethren church, and during that time did not miss a dozen services. He was class leader for many years, and served as trustee from the time of his uniting with the church until July 11, 1885, when death called hun to be a member of the great church above. At the time of his death he was also superin- tendent of the Sunday-school; among the neighbors he was known as a prominent and influential man. One brother, Henry, living in Dakota, and one sister, of Dupont, Ohio, still survive him.
After his death, his wife, the subject of this sketch, with the aid of her children, took up the farm work on the old homestead, and has been very prosperous. Mrs. Hershey's foster brother, Robert Foster, was reared by her mother from his early babyhood until grown to full manhood. At the outbreak of the war he entered in his country's service and served vahantly until captured and taken to Libby prison, where he was starved to death. Her grandfather served in the Revolutionary war and one uncle in the Mexican war. She has been a member of the United Brethren church since she was fourteen years old, and was the first member of the Auglaize class. When a young lady she taught school and was very successful. She is a woman of consider- able business tact, and has been signally snc- cesstul in managing the farm.
L SAAC HILTY, a prosperous farmer of Riley township, Putnam county, was born in Allen county, Ohio, May 19, 1843, and is a son of Peter and Eliz- "beth ( Neuenschwander; Hilty, was wared to timing, and also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed four years. 1
December, 1866, he married and settled on the farm upon which he now resides, first renting and then buying. This farm comprises 175 acres, of which he has 135 acres in culti- vation, is conveniently located within a half- mile of Pandora, ann is improved with sub- stantial and commodious buildings, and is stocked with graded cattle and other choice animals. Mr. Hilty has been engaged, in ad- dition to farming, in the threshing business for a number of years, and in 1881, in partnership with others, started a saw-mill, in which he has done a most extensive business, buying logs, making lumber, etc.
The marriage of Mr. Hilty took place December 6, 1866, a year before he care to this country, to Miss Anna Blosser, who was born in Putnam conty. June 2, 1843 and who is a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Basinger, Blosser. Her father, Henry Ble ser, was born in Virginia and came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1837 By trade he .. s a blacksmith and remarkably versatile in this and in the mechanical arts generally, ' ing able to make or repan any implement or ma- chine, whether made of wood or metal. he it never so delicate. He was also a surveyor, served the county in that capacity a monber of years, and also did about all the pavate surveying of his locality. He made all his instruments, including his compass, the needle of which he charged with a lode-stone found by his father in the Blue Ridge mount .. mis. Eventually relinquishing blacksmithing, Mr. Blosser settled down to farming, a vocation he followed until his death, which occurred in 1863. He had long been a member of the Mennonite church and was honored by all for his upright life and gentle disposition His wife was a native of Alsace, France, born feb- mary 20, 1Su1; she came to America in 1.4. accompanied by her parents, who landed in Alexandria, Va., and there she remained cotil
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
1837, when she came to Ohio, where she now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Hilty, at the age of eighty-four years. The eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Blosser were named as follows: Christian, Magdalene, Fannie, Elizabeth, Anna (Mrs. Hilty), Abraham, Henry and Sarah.
Peter Hilty, father of our subject, was a life-long farmer and was among the earliest settlers of Putnam county, which he greatly assisted in clearing from the wilderness. He was born September 28, 1821, and died in Allen county, April 8, 1892. His wife, who was born February 11, 1819, came from the old county to Ohio in 1824 and located in Wayne county, Ohio, but later moved to Allen county, where she died, December 5, 1894. . These parents were consistent members of the Mennonite church, and their union was blessed with the birth of ten children, viz: Isaac (our subject,, John S., Barbara, Catherine, Benja- min, Noah, Mary (who died the mother of five children, Peter B., Samuel, Susan and Eliza - beth. The union of Isaac and Anna (Blosser) Ililty has also been crowned by the birth of ten children, viz: Henry, who is married and settled; Elizabeth, Catherine, Peter, Jessic, Sarah, Mery, Minnie, Aldine and Abraham. Mr. Hilty and family are members of the De- fendless Mennonite church and have so lived as to win the regard and esteem of all who know them. Mr .. Hilty was at one time a democrat in his political affiliations, but of late years has withdrawn his attention from public matters and given it to his private affairs, leaving to other young men the offices and then perplexities and emoluments.
ETER B. HILTY, an enterprising young business man and farmer of Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Richland township, Allen county, March 22, 1858, the ninth of eleven children
born to Peter and Elizabeth (Neuenschwan- der) Hilty, who were born in Basel, Switzer- land, but who, when young, were brought by their parents to America. Peter's parents first settled in Holmes county, Ohio, but later moved to Allen county, where Peter married, bought land, improved a farm, reared a family and there died April 8, 1892, his wife surviving until December, 1894. Both were members of the Mennonite church. Peter and Eliza- beth were the parents of eleven children, named as follows: Isaac, farmer and saw- mill proprietor, of Riley township; John S., of Allen county; Benjamin B., fariner: Noah; Peter B., our subject; Samuel, of Allen county; Barbara, wife of Christian A. Lugabill. Cath- erine, married to A. M. Amstutz; Mary, who was married to David D. Geiger, becam. the mother of six children, and is now deceased: Susan, who died young, and Elizabeth. the wife of Peter A. Suter.
Peter B. Hilty was reared to farming and was educated in both the Engh-h and German languages in the common schools, and later attended the normal school for several terms, thus preparing himself for school-teaching. At the age of seventeen he took charge of his first school, and taught his last terin in 1886-87, teaching in both languages. In 1880, Mr. Hilty was married to Miss Barbara Moses, who was born December 20, 1856, and is a dangh- ter of Rev. John Moses, of Wayne county, Ohio. Mr. Moses came to Putnam county in 1851 as a minister of the Swiss Mennonite church. He has been a farmer, but entered the ministry and rose to the position of bishop. He married Miss Anna Lehman, to which union were born ten children, named as fol- lows: Daniel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Barbara, Fanny, Noah, Jacob, John J . Amma and Sam- uel; of these Sarah alone has been called away. - dying in Colburn, Int, and leaving five children. Rev Mr. Moses lost his faith-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
fal companion in 1878, but he is still spared for good work for the Master, and is in his sixty-eighth year. To P. B. Hilty and wife have been born eight children, of whom two died young, the surviving six being named Elizabeth, Lilla, Alvin B., Aldo C., Estella and Martha.
In 1881 Mr. Hilty purchased 120 acres of the farm on which he still lives, in Riley town- ship, Putnam county, which farm at the time contained some indifferent improvements, but Mr. Hilty has since erected good and substan- tial farin buildings, cleared up and tilled sev- enty acres, and has as productive a piece of land as any of its size in the township. He has set out an orchard of choice fruit trees, does the usual general farming, and raises all the live stock necessary for home use. In 1894 Mr. Hilty commenced the undertaking busi- ness at Pandora, and within this short time has established a first-class reputation as a Emeral director. Mr. Hilty was reared a dem- ocrat, but in local elections he sustains the nomince he thinks to be most competent to till the office sought, irrespective of politics. Mr. Hilty 14 a young man of enterprise and ability, and has won for himself many friends throughout Riley and adjacent townships, who are sincere in their regard and esteem for him- self and family.
ERDINAND HOFFMANN, one of the most enterprising and prominent farmers of Pleasant township, Put- nam county, Ohio, was bom in Glan- dorf, Germany, September 8, 1832 and at the age of three years came with his parents to America, landing at Baltimore, Md., after passing eight weeks on the ocean. From Baltimore the family went to Wheeling, Va., on a freight wagon, then down the river to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence by wagon to Wapi-
koneta, where they found their funds ex- hausted, but were assisted by the priest, and arrived at Glandorf, Putnam county, in Janu- ary, 1836. Here, through the aid of Father Horstman, they settled and leased some land, which the father, aided by his elder rildren, at once set to work to clear up. He also worked on the canal, which was ther in the conrse of construction. Further mention of the parents and the other members of the fam- ily will be reserved for a place further on, while the fortunes of the subject will bere be followed.
Ferdinand Hoffmann attended s hool at Glandorf until twelve years of age, then went to Cincinnati in the fall of 1844. where he wit- nessed the famous tailors' strike, and shere he worked in a match factory and a spice-mill for a time, and then for three months attended school; then entered a job printing office, whence he graduated to the composition room of a free-soil paper (which was in constant danger of being mobbed by Kenti kians), where he worked two years, and then passed two years at home. Returning agair ro Cin- cinnati, he entered the office of the Herald, an abolition sheet, where he remained until the failure of that journal a year later. Afte. working on other papers he passed another year at home; returned to Cincinnati, was sick three months, but worked a year in a commis- sion house, and then returned home perma- heutly. In 1852 he marre la widow, and cared for her farm until 1865, when he bought the farm on which he now lives, bu' which then contained 120 acres, and was is proved with a dweiling. To this tract he has added eighty acres, and has also bought oth . tracts, to be distributed among his children and some to be kept for himself. His home tun has Tto acres cleared, but he owas a total of 150 acres of cleared land, ditched, tiled a : under cultivation. He has remodeled his dwelhug
LEWIS E. HOLTZ.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
built good barns, etc., set out a fine orchard, and has everything in good shape and in a thriving condition.
Mr. Hoffmann married Mrs. Katherine Kuhl- man, whose first husband, Bernard Kuhlman, was killed by a horse. She was then the mother of one child. The father of Mrs. Hoffmann, Henry Feltman, a native of Ger- many, came to America in 1835, when his : daughter (Mrs. Hoffmann) was but one year of age. He also settled down to farming near Glandorf, and there died September 5, 1892, a member of the Catholic church and the father of six children, all well-to-do residents of Putnam county, and named as follows: Katherine, wife of the subject; Agnes, Eliza- beth, Mary, William and Barney. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have been born eleven children, of whom four died . young, the living being named as follows: John H., born March 11, 1857; William F., May 18, 1861; Katherine, October 21, 1863, wife of Frank Steeschulte; Mary, June 6, 1866, wife of John Biskar; Annie, October 20, 1868, yet at home; Henry B., December 8, 1870, teacher at Leipsic and also a music salesman, and Frank J., March 3, 1873, still at home.
The parents of our subject, John Henry, and Katherine .(Papenbrock) Hoffmann, were both natives of Germany and caine to America , with a small colony, among whom were the Lehmkules, the Gurdings, the Snipkels and others, all of whom settled at or near Glan- dorf, being acquainted with the priest at that place, who had been reared near them in Ger- many and was of great assistance in getting the colonists settled after their arrival. . These all prospered and reared families. The mother of our subject died about 1858, and the father November 8, 1892, the latter at the age of eighty-six years. To John Henry and Kather- ine Hoffmann were born two children: Ferdi- nand, our subject, and W. F., now represent-
ative for this county and a farmer and carpen- ter. John Henry's second wife, who was a Mrs. Klemann before she became Mrs. Hoff- mann, bore him one child-Thersa-who is married to Frank Kracht, a farmer and thresher. Our subject is a very active demo- crat, has filled some of the minor offices from a sense of public duty, as he is no aspirant for political honors, and has been a member of the school board for nine years. He has been very successful as an agriculturist, and is rec- ognized as a useful and progressive citizen, whose good name stands untamished in the community in which he has so long lived and whose respect and esteem for him are made manifest in many ways and with unaffected sincerity.
EWIS E. HOLTZ, as the name indi- cates, is of German descent Mr. Holtz traces his family history back to his great-grandfather, George Holtz, who, it appears, left Germany about the mindle of the last century, immigrating to the United States and settling in Maryland, a short distance from Fredericktown. Jacob Holtz, son of the aforesaid George, and grand- father of Lewis E., was born in Frederick county, Maryland, was a farmer by occupa- tion, and served five years in the war of the Revolution, as lieutenant of a company re- cruited in Fredericktown and vicinity. He became a large land-owner, a successful farm- er, and for a number of years was one of the solid men of Frederick county. He married in his native state and became the head of a family of six children-Barbara, married to John Wolf; Elizabeth, married to William Crager; Catherine, wife of Jacob Cramer; Jacob, John and Nicholas Holt/
Jacob Holtz, the father of the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Mary-
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land, and there married Susan N. Fiega, a native of the same state. He moved to Ohio in 1834 and located in the neighbor- hood of Tiffin, Seneca county, where he purchased a tract of 830 acres of wild land, a large portion of which he cleared, improving a farin of over 200 acres, which, with other valuable real estate, he subse- quently divided among his children, of whom there were five sons and two daughters. Jacob Holtz was an extensive farmer and successful business man. He was an active member of the German Reform church, to which he con- tributed liberally, and he also made large do- nations to Heidelberg college, in the main building of which there is a memorial window to his memory. He was a man of intelligence far above the average, and he exerted great influence in the community where he lived. The wife of Jacob Holtz died in May, 1870, at the age of eighty-two; her mother lived to be 102 years old. The following are the names of the children of Susan and Jacob Holtz: William, a successful farmer and stock raiser, died in the prime of life, aged forty-eight; Jacob P., deceased; Mary E., widow of Den- nis F. Cramer; . George, deceased; Lewis E., subject of this sketch; Charlotte, deceased wife of Frederick A. Baker; Susan, died in early childhood, and Dennis resides on the home farm in Seneca county.
Lewis E. Holtz was born in Frederick county, Md., seven miles north of Frederick- town, on the 4th day of June, 1821. His youth was spent on a farm and his educa- tion was received in the district and select schools, his progress in his studies having been very satisfactory, especially in math- ematics, for which he early manifested a decided preference. When a mere lad, he began the study of civil engineering with his brother-in-law, Dennis F. Cramer, and completed a course in the same at a se-
lect school, at Tiffin, Ohio, taught by Prof. James Evers. Until twenty-six years of age, Mr. Holtz made his home with his parents, but was engaged in his profession in various parts of the country in the meantime. He followed civil engineering until 1858, at which time he was appointed treasurer of Seneca county, to complete an unexpired term, and during 1855 he served as deputy county surveyor, under Marcus Schuyler. In 1863, Mr. Holtz removed to Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, and en- gaged in the hard-ware trade, establishing a small foundry at the same time, and was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he resumed surveying, to which he had since given the greater part of his attention. He served as county surveyor of Putnam from 1869 to 1875, and during that period did a vast amount of professional work, not only in his own, but in adjacent counties as well. Owing to sonie litigation growing out of a difficulty with Putnam county, relative to the surveying of a ditch for which he was refused payment for services, Mr. Holtz began examining the ditch laws of the state and succeeded in secur- ing the passage of a special act by the legisla- ture compelling payment for the same; while looking up this matter he became interested in the study of law and it led him finally to be admitted to the bar. He began the practice of the legal profession, but continued thereat for only a short time, having been compelled, by reason of defective hearing, to abandon the same and turn his attention to his original pro- fession. Mr. Holtz was one of the chief pro- moters in securing the removal of the county seat from Kalida to Ottawa, and it was he who established the grades for the first public ditches of Putnam county. He also was ill- tiring in his efforts to secure a system of turn- pikes for the county, and he superintended the construction of the first road of the kind through Putnam. He also introduced tile
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