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 29
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in Ohio. Mr. Bagley was a blacksmith by trade and for many years followed his calling at Pandora, Ohio, where his death occurred about 1858. His children were four in num- ber and were named as follows: Emeline, married to William Morehead, farmer; Alemeth A., wife of Mr. Kranss, our subject; Susan, wife of E. F. Wick, a machinist, and Wilhan R., a fariner of Liberty township. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Krauss has been blessed by the birth of nine children, of whom one died young, the survivors being named Eva E., Albert L., William R., Luther P., Mary E., Earnest S .; Verney R. and Leland H., all still at home.
In politics Mr. Krauss was formerly a dem- ocrat, but since the advent of the people's party, which he assisted in organizing at Cin- cinnati in 1891, he has affiliated with that body. He has filled several of the township offices, including that of clerk for two terms, and in every position gave the utmost satisfac- tion. He and family are members of the Lutheran church and their daily walk through life gives evidence of the sincerity of their re- ligious profession. Mr. Krauss is one of the most skillful agriculturists of Liberty township, and consequently one of the most prosperous. He has made a handsome competency entirely through his good management and financial ability, supplemented by untiring industry. His integrity has never been called in question and he deservedly stands among the most re- spected of Liberty township's solid citizens.
ETER KRAMER, one of the old set- tlers of Fort Jennings, Putnam county, Ohio, and a most successful business man, is a native of Gerolstein, Trier, Prussia, one of ten children born to Lawrence Kramer -- four of whom had their nativity in the Buckeye state. Magdalen . Hahn) Kra-
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mer, wife of Lawrence, was born December 26, 1825. Lawrence Kramer, who was born May 17, 1818, brought his family to Ohio in April, 1857, and bought forty acres of land near Glandorf, Putnam county, but in 1868 sold and moved to Jennings township, where he bought 107 acres and farmed until 1881, when he retired from the active duties of life and died June 19, 1883, at the age of about sixty-six years, a member of the Catholic church.
Peter Kramer, our subject, was born Octo- ber 6, 1851, and was consequently a mere child when brought to Ohio by his parents, and seventeen years old when they settled in Jennings township. He was well educated in the common schools and worked on the home farm until 1879, when he was appointed station agent at Fort Jennings for the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad, and where, also, he was connected in the restaurant business with his father. The agency he still holds, but discon- tinued the restaurant business in 1883, and en- gaged in the musical instrument business, carry- ing a large assortment of organs and pianos. In 1880 he was appointed assistant postmaster under President Hayes, and in October, 1885, he was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland-still holding the position.
May 30, 1881, Mr. Kramer was united in marriage with Miss Julia Rekart, who was born at Fort Jennings, February 2, 1849, a daugh- ter of Sigmund and Mary (Discher) Rekart, a full sketch of which family will be found on another page of this volume. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Kramer has been blessed with three children, named Carl S., Nellie and Julius. In politics Mr. Kramer is a democrat and an active worker for his party, with whom he is very popular. He has served his fellow- citizens as township treasurer, and fully took care of their interests while thus employed. As postmaster he has given entire satisfaction
to the public, and has won great credit for himself. He is prosperous as a business man, and as a member of society he stands, with his amiable wife, in the center of a large and con- stantly widening circle of admiring and truly sincere friends.
O ........ ...
RS. ANDREW KROMER, of Mon- terey township, Putnam county, Ohio, is one of those practical women who have the strength of mind to manage their affairs after the loss of their main support -- that is, their husbands. Andrew Kromer, to whom this lady had the happiness to be married, was born in Baden, Germany, October 13, 1842. His father, An- drew Warner Kromer, came to America in 1844, landing in New York city, whence he went to Buffalo, N. Y., by canal, and then, via Lake Erie, to Sandusky, Ohio, where he arrived July 4, of same year. His family at that time consisted of himself, wife and six children, the latter being named Ferdinand, Kate, Rose, Charles Joseph, Victoria and An- drew. The family settled on and cleared up a farm in Erie county, and there the father died at the age of seventy years.
Andrew Kromer, the deceased husband of the subject of this sketch, was but two years of age when brought to the United States, re- ceived a good common-school education in Sandusky city, Erie county, Ohio, was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and in 1868, bought a farm in section No. 11, Rice town- ship, Sandusky county, on which he lived un- til he came to Putnam county, October 6, 1882, and bought 160 acres, and here passed the re- mainder of his days, dying, at the age of fifty- two years, April 15. 1895, one of the most honored citizens of the township. His mar- riage took place at New Riegel, Seneca county,
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Ohio, April 21, 1868, to Miss Amelia Walker, who was born in that town October 28, 1844, `a daughter of Charles and Lugartes (Fleik) Walker, the former of whom was a native of Baden, Germany, and the father of eight chil- dren, viz: August, Pauline, Mary, Emma, Amelia, John, Sophia and Joseph; of these, the elder three were born in Germany and the remainder in this country. Mr. Walker came to the United States in August, 1844, bought forty acres of land in Seneca county, Ohio, cleared up a farm and added by industry twenty more acres, and on his farm he died at the age of sixty years, honored as a just and pure man and as a consistent member of the Catholic church, in which faith his widow also passed away.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kromer were born six children, as follows: Margaret, Feb- ruary 3, 1869; Mary A., September 9, 1872; Charles William, May 21, 1875; Frank, Sep- tember 2, 1879; Kate, November 25, 1882, and Leo H., August 20, 1888. Mrs. Kromer has given her children the best possible educa- tfon her circumstances afforded, and they have grown up to their present years an honor to her motherly care, the elders proving this fact by the prominent positions they have reached in life, while the younger children are also being trained to lead moral and useful lives. Although she deeply felt the loss of her hus- band and still remains a widow, she never has lost that strength of character which has en- abled her to bear up against her bereavment and to rear her family in respectability and to usefulness. Her eldest son, William, now has charge of the home farm, in the management of which he has proven himself to be fully competent, and he, also, with his mother, en- joys the respect of all who know him. Mrs. Kromer is an exceptionally bright lady, with no lack of busmess talent, and is also an orna- ment to the social circle in which she moves;
but few of her sex equal her in ability to over- come adverse circumstances, and certainly none deserves more credit than she for the successful manner in which she has accom- plished this purpose. Amiable in every trait of her character, she has won the respect of all who know her, and is now one of the most re- spected residents of Monterey township.
ENRY KROUSE, a deceased but once prominent fariner of Union township, Putnamn county, Ohio, was a son of Henry and Elizabeth Krouse, and was born April 1, 1831, in Ashland county, Ohio, his parents being natives of Germany. Our subject came to Putnam county while still a youth, and received his education chiefly in the public schools of this county, grew to manhood on a farin, and November 1, 1855, married Miss Catherine Clevenger, daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Rimer) Clevenger, and a member of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the township. This happy marriage was blessed by the birth of nine children, all of whom, save two, were spared to reach the years of maturity and to gladden the declining years of their worthy and respected sire. The nine were born in the following order: William, a farmer of Sugar Creek township; Louisa, wife of James Burman, of Union township; Cynthia Ann, at home on the old homestead; John, also a farmer in Union township; James, who died at five years of age; an infant daughter, who died unnamed; Alonzo, farmer; Samuel, carpenter, and Reuben, farmer -- all three on the home- stead.
Mrs. Catherine Krouse was born in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, March 29, 1832, here grew to womanhood, and here mar- ried, after which event she and her husband lived for a year on a farm situated on the oppo-
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site side of the Anglaize river from the present homestead; then they purchased the farm now occupied by Mrs. Krouse and the children. At the time of settling here the farm was in the woods, and the first habitation was a log cabin, which afforded them a home until about 1884, when the present modern dwelling was erected. In the meantime, Mr. Krouse had cleared up his farm and brought it to a fine condition of productiveness, its cultivation continuing to occupy his attention until his death, which took place October 6, 1891. In politics he was a democrat, and for a number of years was a school director, having always taken a great interest in matters educational. He was a prominent, progressive and useful citizen and highly respected by all who knew him. His widow is also greatly admired by the residents of the township, and is passing in peace and comfort the declining years of her life in the occupancy of one of the finest mansions in the county.
HEODORE KUNNEKE, one of the pioneer citizens and business men of Columbus Grove, Ohio, is a native of Germany, and was born in the city of Hanover, kingdom of Hanover, on the 18th day of March, 1824. His parents were Chris- tian and Ernestine (Ebling) Kunneke, both natives of Hanover.
When our subject was eight years of age his parents removed to Obenkerschen, district of Shomberg, in Hesse- Cassel, where he finished his schooling and was confirmed. When he was fourteen years of age he apprenticed himself to learn the car- penter's trade, completing his time on the 20th day of April, 1841.
Theodore Kunneke, in August, 1841, came to the United States, landing at Baltimore, Ud., after a voyage of seven weeks. After a low days in Baltimore he went by canal to
Pittsburg, where he remained until the spring of 1842, working at his trade for a dollar a week and his board. He next went to Park- ersburg, W. Va., and there went to work in a hotel, acting as dining-room boy and running to the steamboat landings. He remained in Parkersburg for about six months and then to Cincinnati, hoping to get work at his trade, but in this he was disappointed, and for sev- eral weeks he was compelled to work at any- thing he could find to do, such as working on the streets and sweeping and cleaning gutters. One day, however, while on the street, he fell in with a millwright by the name of James Flannerty (one of the three brothers who were in partnership in millwrighting in Saint Louis, Mo.), who was in Cincinnati buying machinery. To this man our subject bound himself out for three years as an apprentice, to learn the mill- wright trade. As soon as Mr. Flannerty had purchased his machinery, which was for a four and saw-mill for a point in the Ozark moun- tains on James river, in Taney connty, Mo., twenty miles south of Springfield, he chartered a canal-boat and loaded the machinery and sup- plies aboard, and they all started down the Ohio river. They went from the Ohio into the Mis- sissippi river and down that to Montgomery's point, Ark., and then went up White river in tow of a small steamer, as far as navigable for the steamboat, and then continued by canal- boat as far up as the water would permit. They then loaded the machinery on wagons, and with ox-teams hauled it across the country, a distance of forty miles, to the desired point. Mr. Kunneke helped to build the flour and saw-mill, and then for nearly a year had charge of the flour-mill as miller, as he had a very good knowledge of milling, his father hav- ing been a miller in the old country.
Whik at this mill the owner had a govern- ment contract to supply flom to the Cherokee Indians, which tribe was located only about
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
twenty miles from the will. After remaining at the above mill for about a year, young Kunneke and the son of Flannerty con- cinded they would go west and make their fortunes in the gold fields of Oregon. Accord- ingly they went to Council Bluffs, the then out-fitting point, and there purchased a regular emigrant out-fit, consisting of ponies and pack- mules, and then started on their long journey across the plains. They thought it unneces- sary to have a guide across that sandy expanse, and by themselves the two young men struck out. They soon found out their mistake, and after ten days' experience, when their animals were worn out, their provisions alnost exhausted the Indians all around them, they were forced to turn back to Council Bluffs, where they ar- rived worn out and financially wrecked. They then worked their way, as best they could, on boats down the Missouri river to Saint Louis, and there Mr. Kunneke went to work at the millwright trade and finished up his appren- ticeship with the Flannertys. From Saint Louis he came to Dayton, Ohio, and from Dayton he worked his way up the canal to Delphos, helping to build or repair almost every mill on that canal between these two points.
At Dayton, in 1847, Mr. Kunneke was married to Margaret Duebner, who died in 18449, leaving one son, Louis, also deceased. In March, 1851, Mr. Kunneke came to Column - bus Grove and built a saw-mill for Jonathan K. Brice, uncle of Senator C. S. Brice. He then turned to Dayton, but came back here in the following spring. On April 14, 1853, he mar- ried Mary E. Featheringill, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on October 9, 1833. The parents of Mrs. Kunneke came to Putnam county in 1833, when she was about six weeks oll, the first shelter they had after they reached bere being and Indian tent. They lived on a farm near Columbus Grove the rest
of their lives. To the second marriage of Mr. Kunneke a son and a daughter were born: Martha Elenor, born January 21, 1854, be- came the wife of W. A. Kittinger, of Ander- son, Ind., and died September 16, 1894. leav- ing three children: John Harmon Kunneke was born January 13, 1858, married Bell Mc- Comb, and is now one of the leading young business men of Columbus Grove. After marry- ing and settling permanently in Columbus Grove Mr. Kunneke engaged in merchandizing for about four years, and then sold out that busi- ness and went to contracting and building. which he has followed up to the present time. All the largest brick buildings and blocks, with one or two exceptions, and all the best residences in Columbus Grove, were built by Mr. Kunneke. He built and now owns what is called Kun- neke block, on the corner of high and Syca- more streets, which is a two-story brick with basement, containing three store-rooms, with the up-stairs occupied by newspaper and other offices. He also owns the two-story brick business house on High street occupied by the Maples Banking company, and a large two- story frame business house on the corner of Sycamore and School streets. In 1865 Mr. Kunneke built his present large and substan- tial brick residence which, with its handsome grounds, is on the corner of Sycamore street and Broadway. He also owns three other good residences in Columbus Grove, and two good farms near that city, situated on the Allen county line, and also owns the old home farm where his wife was reared, near town. Mr. Kunneke is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the Presbyterian. The father of Mr. Kunneke died while the latter was a school-boy, His mother married again, and in 1846 she, the step-father, three brothers, and a half-sister came to the United States and located six miles north of Dayton, Ohio, on a farm, where the mother died. Harmon,
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Mr. Kunneke's youngest brother, was a soldier in an Ohio regiment, under Gen. Sigel's com- mand, and at the battle of Stone River, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., and was killed in 1864. The two other brothers are still living, one in Dayton and the other on the old homestead. The eldest brother came over to the United States between the coming of Mr. Kunneke and the family, and engaged in the milling business at Versailles, Darke county, Ohio, where he died; his widow and children are now living in Louisville, Ky. But few men in Co- lumbus Grove are better or more favorably known than Mr. Kunneke, and he is one of the well-to-do men of the township.
ENJAMIN LANDIS, a thriving farmer of Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Greensburg town- ship, in the same county, in 1843, and is a son of Abraham and Margaret (Fender) Landis, the former of whom was born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1799, and was a son of Benja- min Landis, Sr., of Dutch parentage. Benja- min, Sr., died in his native state of Pennsyl- vania in 1861 or 1862, having always been a farmer. Abraham, his youngest son, received a good common-school, education, and in his youth learned the cooper's trade. In 1840 lie married Miss Fender, who was born in Ger- many about the year 1822, and in childhood was brought to America by her parents, who made their settlement in the Buckeye state. To the union of Abraham and Margaret Landis were born two children-Benjamin, the sub- ject of this sketch, and Fannie, wife of Isaac Varner, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work.
On the early settlement of Putnam county, Ohio, Abraham Landis came to the new county and secured a tract of wild land, on which, after his marriage, he built a log house and
started to clear up a farm, at which labor he worked earnestly and industriously until his death in 1845. His widow then married John P. Simon, and in 1872 her death also took place, in the faith of the Christian church.
Benjamin Landis, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was educated in the little log cabin school-house of his native dis- trict, and was reared to the calling of agricul- ture, which he followed assiduously and atten- tively on this home place until a short time after he had reached his majority, when he enlisted, in 1865, in company K, Capt. Luther Black, One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, for the remainder of the Civil war. He participated in several skir- mishes, but, the war soon happily coming to a close, he was honorably discharged and re- turned to his home, and resumed his farming in Greensburg township. In 1870 he married Miss Mary Merriott, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1849, a daughter of William and Salome (Dicus) Merriott, and to this union was born one child, Abbie, now the wife of Newton Whitis, of whom further mention will be made. After his marriage Mr. Landis lo- cated on a farm he had previously purchased within the corporate limits of Dupont, Ohio, and here he resided until 1888, when he moved to his present home. Mr. and Mrs. Landis have led a consistent life as members of the United Brethren church. In politics he is an active republican, but has never been an office secker. As a farmer he is excelled by few in his township, even if he be equaled, and as a citizen he is broad in his views and always ready to promote any project intended for the good of the general public.
Mrs. Abbie (Landis) Whitis, daughter of above, was born July 19, 1871, and was edu- cated in the schools of Dupont. April 2, 1889. she was united in marriage with Newton Whitis, who was born in Kalida, Ohio, in
S. P. Krohn
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A
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
July, 1865. He was educated in the schools of his native city, but was reared a farmer, and is recognized as one of the most progress- ive young agriculturists of Perry township. In politics Mr. Whitis is a democrat, and in re- ligion he and wife are members of the United Brethren church, in the faith of which they are rearing their three children-B. Lockwood, Marie and Edgar. Mr. Whitis is no way be- hind his fellow-citizens as an agriculturist or as a member of society, and, with his wife, stands high in the esteem of all who have the pleas- ure of mingling with either or both in the in- terchange of neighborly courtesies.
AMUEL P. KROHN, a well-known citizen and ex-soldier of the Union army, living in Riley township, Put- nam county, Ohio, is a native of the county and was born April 4, 1848. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Weaver) Krohn, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Northumberland county February 10, 1817. Samuel Krohn came to Ohio in 1844 with his fi ther, George Krohn, who settled in Putnam county, and died here in 1860, his widow dy- ing January 25, 1871. Samuel Krohn was twice married, both times in Butler county, Ohio, his wives being sisters, and daughters of Henry and Margaret (Sarver) Weaver. The first marriage took place November 11, 1841, to Sarah Weaver, who was born September 27, 1820, and this union resulted in the birth of seven children, viz: George W., Margaret, Henry, Samuel P. (our subject), Elizabeth, Martin and David. The wife and mother died August 24, 1862, and Mr. Krohn married Mag- dalen Weaver December 22, 1864, and to this second union one child was born -Edward. Two of the sons born to Sammel Krohn by his first wife --- George W. and Samuel P. (our sub- ject)-served in the late Civil war-Samuel P.
in the Twelfth Ohio cavalry. Samel Krohn was by occupation a fariner, but one time owned and operated a saw and grist-mill; he was at all times a popular man in his town- ship, for four years serving as township trus- tee, and for six years as township treasurer, and his death, which occurred April 7, 1886, was deeply mourned as an irreparable loss to the community.
Samuel P. Krohn, our subject, on Decem- ber 23, 1869, took to himself a life partner in the person of Lacy A. Day, who was born August 17, 1849, and is a daughter of Hiram and Harriet (Pierce) Day, natives respectively of Wayne county, Ohio, and Kent county, England, who came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1840. The children born to Samuel and Lacy A. Krohn were four in number, and were named in order of birth as follows: Martie Estelle, born September 27, 1870. and now the wife of Jacob G. Reese; Hiram S., born Oc- tober 10, 1875; Reno A., October 14, 1877, and Hattie, born March 14, 1881. Hiram Day, father of Mrs. Samuel Krohn, was a phy- sician of celebrity at Pandora, having been very successful for many years both as a sur- geon and physician, maintaining a well-earned and well-merited reputation in his profession until his death, in April, 1889, at the age of seventy-four years. Samnel P. Krohn was but a mere lad when he volunteered to defend the honor of the country's flag and to save his be- loved country from disintegration. At the early age of fifteen years he left the home farm, enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio cavalry, was assigned to the army of Tennessee, and passed through a gallant and faithful service of two years, without being wounded or captured. On receiving an honorable discharge he re- turned to the old farm, where he rendered val- uable assistance until 1872, marrying in the meantime, as recorded above In the year last named he opened a hotel, and in 1873
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supplemented this business by engaging in the dry-goods trade for a few years, but did not neglect his hotel interests. After selling his dry- goods business he devoted his attention solely to his hotel, with the exception of doing some live stock buying and shipping. In 1888, how- ever, he re-entered mercantile business, and has since conducted a grocery, in addition to his hotel business. Mr. Krohn is a stanch democrat. He served his fellow-citizens twenty consecutive years as township treasurer, has recently been re-elected to fill the same posi- tion, and is altogether popular, not only as a party man, hotel keeper and business man, but as a worthy and enlightened citizen.
S ENECA FELL LARGE. the popular liveryman of Ottawa, Ohio, was born in Doylestown, Pa., September 21, 1843, and is of English descent. In tracing the ancestry of the Large family in America, it is learned that it was first repre- sented in eastern Pennsylvania, in the time of the colonies, by immigrants direct from Eng- land. Joseph Large, one of the early mem- bers of the family, lived in Bucks county, Pa., and had two sons, John and Joseph; the latter married Melicent Church, daughter of Richard and Sarah ( Fell) Church, and reared two chil- dren- Joseph S. and Rebecca-a direct de- scendant of one of which is the subject of this sketch. The history of the Fell family is also traceable to England, and the first mention of the name occurs in the parish of Ullale, Cum- berland, where one Joseph Fell, of Longlands, was born August 16, 1868. The next in line was Benjamin Fell, born in Cumberland, Sep- tember 1, 1703; he married Hannah Scar- borough, of Bucks county, Pa., and was ap- proved minister of the society of Friends as early as 1745. He was the father of cleven children, the ellest, John, being the direct an-
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