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 37
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The subject of this sketch, Emery Mathile, was born in Alsace, France, September 28, 1837, and was only nine years of age when his parents emigrated to this country. His early life was passed upon the home farm, where he learned agricultural pursuits, and where he improved a portion of his time by obtaining a practical common-school education. January 6, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Moore, the daughter of Abraham and Susan (Miner) Moore, who was born in Vir- ginia, December 3, 1844. Abraham and Susan Moore, with their family, came from Virginia in 1848, and settled in Franklin county, Ohio. They were among the sturdy pioneers of this
section of Ohio, and were counted among its substantial citizens. The father was by occu- pation a farmer and a blacksmith; politically, a whig, and afterward a republican; while in a religious way he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist church. The mother died in 1894, while the father is living out the remainder of a well-spent life. Their children were Sarah E., wife of J. W. Robbins; Ziza W., wife of E. Washburn; Lydia A., wife of our subject; Elzena, wife of James Holmes; E. Norton; Newman; Anson, and Alma, wife of Harvey Orr. The marriage of Emery and Lydia Mathile was solemninzed in Franklin county, Ohio, where they remained until 1881, when they removed to their present farm in Monroe township, Putnam county. It consists of forty acres, with a modern farm residence and other buildings, and is a most comfortable home. Their children, in the order of birth, are Wilhurst, Clayton, Edna (wife of Charles Younger), Louis, Edward and Mary, the last named being deceased.
The ancestors of our subject were men who had been prompt to respond to the call of their country in times of war. It was natural, therefore, that Emery Mathile should be among the first to enlist for service at the breaking out of our Civil war. He enlisted in company H, Ninety-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and saw three years of active service in the north- ern army. He campaigned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri, and was a participant in several hard-fought battles and innumerable skirmishes. He narrowly escaped capture sev- eral times, while foraging, but was finally taken prisoner at Richmond, Ky., being after- ward paroled. His war record was an excel- lent one, and he was honorably discharged, August 14, 1865. Whatever success he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own ef- forts, and is certamly well de erved, for he
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has led a busy life and one worthy of emulation, not only by the rising generation, but, indeed, by many of his fellow-citizens.
.. E. MATTHEWS is among the busi- ness men of Ottawa, and is deserving of conspicuous mention as cashier of the banking firm of A. V. Rice & Co. He is a representative of two of the old- est pioneer families of Putnam county, and a son of J. K. and Catherine Matthews. J. K. Matthews came to the county of Putnam a young man, in 1847 or . 1848, from Hardin county, Ohio, but was a native of the state of Pennsylvania. He married, in Putnam county, Catherine Row, daughter of Michael and Han- nah Row, by whom he had one child, N. E. Matthews, the subject of this sketch, whose birth occurred in Ottawa April 14, 1852. Michael and Hannah Row were among the very early settlers of Putnam, coming as early as 1832, locating on a small piece of ground on the present site of Ottawa, and erecting a cabin on what is now the corner of Main and Main Cross streets; this was probably the first building in Ottawa, and shortly after its occu- pancy Mr. Row opened his doors for the ac- commodation of the traveling public. About 1859 he erected a frame structure, on the same corner, which was afterward known as the Ottawa House, but as long as the original pro- prietor lived it went by his name-the Row House. Mr. Row continued in the hotel busi- ness during his residence in Ottawa, but his first neighbors were Indians, who lived in the village within a short distance of the present site of the city.
N. E. Matthews received his education in the public schools, and his first practical busi- ness experience was as clerk in a dry-goods house, which position he held for a period of three years. With the exception of about three
years spent in Wisconsin and Iowa, Mr. Mat- thews has been a resident of the county of Putnam, Ohto. In 1872 he accepted the posi- tion of cashier with the banking firm of A. V. Rice & Co., and has since developed business ability of a high order; he is an accomplished accountant and thoroughly familiar with all the details of the financial institution with which he is identified. He has always been untiring in his efforts to advance the material interest of Ottawa, was one of the promoters and stockholders of the Ottawa Creamery company, and took an active part in securing the electric light plant of the city; he is one of the leading republicans of Putnam county, and for several years has been very active in con- tributing to his party's success in a number of campaigns. He is chairman of the county cen- tral committee, and was also a member of the state central committee, in both of which his counsel and good judgment have been duly appreciated. He has frequently been solicited by his friends to accept official position, but has always declined such honors, his business interests being such that he could not leave them. Mr. Matthews was married December 20, 1877, to Miss Grace Pugh, daughter of Day and Elizabeth (Davis) Pugh, which union has resulted in the birth of two children- Kate and one that died in infancy unnamed. Mr. Matthews is a Mason of high standing, be- longing to Ottawa lodge, Ottawa chapter and Shawnee commandery. In religion he and his wife are Presbyterians.
The banking firm of A. V. Rice & Co. was organized and began business in 1867, with a cash capital of $25,000, the following gentle- men being the first stockholders: C. H. Rice, A. V. Rice, S. B. Rice and J. M. C. Marble, the last named of whom withdrew in 1872, and, as stated in a preceding paragraph, N. E. Matthews became cashier the same year. The bank continued business under the firm name
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of C. H. Rice & Co. until 1881, at which time it was changed to A. V. Rice & Co., as it now stands. The firm at this time is composed as follows: A. V. Rice, N. E. Matthews, and the estate of S. B. Rice; A. V. Rice is presi- dent, N. E. Matthews cashier, and C. H. Rice assistant cashier.
S AMUEL MELVIN is one of the promi- nent residents of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, but was born in Chester county, Pa., July 11, 1814. a son of William and Mary (Stephens) Melvin. His father, William Melvin, was born on the ocean in 1799, of Irish parentage, and for weeks after his birth his mother was taken to her final rest. The father and his orphaned babe found a landing in Philadelphia, where, eleven years later, the father died, and Will- iain, at this tender age, was left among strangers to battle life alone and unaided. His earliest recollections of his active life were those that pertained to his having been taken to Chester county, Pa., by a man named Hoops, who reared him to the shoemaker's trade, and also gave him a good common- school education. Eventually, however, he became a most excellent fariner. In 1823 he married Mary A. Stevens, who was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1799, of English de- scent. To this marriage the following chil- dren were born: Samuel, the subject of this sketch; Jeffreys, a wholesale liquor dealer of Philadelphia; Chalkley, who was killed in a railroad accident in 1867, he being a machinist; William, who disappeared from Pittsburg, Pa., in 1857; Taylor, who died in youth; Mary A., deceased wife of Sprangle Adair, of Philadel- phia, and Pascal, machinery and engine dealer of Philadelphia. The death of the mother of this family occurred in the Quaker City in
1861, beloved and venerated by her mourning family.
After his marriage William Melvin lived on a rented farm in Chester county, Pa., nntil 1846, when he moved to Philadelphia, where he lived in tranquility until the breaking out of the Civil war, when, most extraordinary to relate, at the advanced age of nearly sixty-four years, he volunteered in defense of the flag of the only country he ever knew. This remark- able event took place in 1862, when he en- listed in company with his three sons, endured two years of the hardships of a soldier's life in the terrific and bloody campaign in Virginia, and served until the close of the war, return- ing safely and honorably to his home in Phila- delphia, to meet, in 1867, a tragic end through an accident on a railroad locomotive.
Samuel Melvin, our subject, was brought up to agriculture on his father's place in Ches- ter county, Pa., and received a good common- school education, which he later greatly en- hanced by home study. He also learned the stone-mason's trade, and subsequently became a skillful railroad engineer. December 4, 1847, he married Miss Ann A. Harper, a native of Chester county, Pa., born in February, 1825, and a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Rigg) Harper. Alexander Harper was a na- tive of Ireland, came to America when a young man, was a hatter by trade, and here married Margaret Rigg, a native of Pennsylvania, of English parentage, and an active member of the Presbyterian church. To the marriage of our subject have been born eight children, as follows: Margaret, wife of Frederick Price, of Kalida; Alexander, farmer of Texas; Taylor, deceased; Etta, of Ottawa; Florence, deceased wife of John Whities, of Washington state; William, deceased; George, a farmer of Kan- sas, and Eugene, an engineer of Finderne, New Jersey.
After marriage Mr. Meh in relinquished
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railroading and followed stationary engineer- ing in Philadelphia until 1851, when he came to Ohio, and for nearly four years engaged in farming in Franklin county, near Columbus. He then came to Putnam county and pur- chased, in Jackson township, forty acres of farm land, re-engaging in farming. For twelve years, also, he was mail contractor on several routes, and was also engaged in saw-milling four years. Soon after moving to Putnam county he purchased his present home in Ka- lida, having now been a resident of the place for over thirty-nine years. He is a member of the Baptist church, which he has never failed to aid liberally, and in politics is a dem- ocrat, having served as mayor, city clerk and as a member of the board of education for over thirty years, and as justice of the peace for an equally long time, beside filling several minor offices. Although he has passed his three score and ten years, he is still strong and active, retains the confidence of the citizens, and looks back on a well spent and useful life.
J OHN BERNARD MERSMAN, one of the most enterprising business men of Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Glan- dorf, this county, July 24, 1851. His father, Bernard Mersman, came from West- phalia, Germany, and was one of the original settlers of Glandorf in 1843. He engaged in mercantile business, and was one of the found- ers of the Glandorf woolen mills, with which he was connected one year. He married Julia Bockhold, and to the union were born ten children, of whom the following lived to ma- turity: John B., Joseph, Frank, Kate, and Henry. His death took place June 10, 1861, at the age of about forty-eight years, and his loss was keenly felt by the counmmity. He was a member of the Catholic church, was a
democrat in politics, and was a successful bus- iness man.
John B. Mersman received a good common- school education in both English and German, and for two or three years taught school and traded through the county. In 1871 he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and engaged in the lum- ber business for three years, then went to Ken- dallville, Ind., where he followed the same business for twelve years, and in '889 re- turned to Putnam county, Ohio, continued in the lumber business, and in 1892 bought the Beckman House at Ottoville, which ne subse- quently sold; he then built a tasteful residence, and in 1894 became the proprietor of the Mersman House, now so popular with the traveling public. His saw-mill is one of the largest in Putnam county and employs twent: men as a rule, and has occasionally given employment to as many as too men at a time.
Mr. Mersman is a natural genius as well as a mechanic and machinist, having had years of experience in all branches During his carlier life his inventive mind developes some very valuable patents and in wood-work- ing machinery, and he is known as one of the most skillful of workmen. Mr. Mersman is one of the up-to-date men in his trade and calling, his eye ever being alert to catch that which will be useful and beneficial in his line, and, although not one that would be called an adventuresome man in business affairs, is at all times ready to adopt a new piece of ma- chinery or method that would aid tinn in a business way. He is a man of farsightedness from a business standpoint, and, .. Ithough meeting with some reverses during his business career, yet upon the whole it can be said that he has been one of the successful men.
The marriage of Mr. Mersman took place February 28, 1871, at Fort Wayne, hid., with Miss Mary Maag, who was born April 15, 1847. at Glandorf, a daughter of Theodore
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
and Katie (Purs) Maag. The father was one of the original Glandorf pioneers, and cleared up a large tract, of which he left to nearly every one of his ten children eighty acres each, dying at the age of seventy-seven years. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mersman have been born three children, viz: Edward, Walter, and Albert. In politics Mr. Mersman is a democrat and has served as a member of the town council of Ottoville; he is a member of the board of education and is serving on the building committee of the new school-house now being erected. Mr. Mersman also has an Interest in the development of oil production, and is an all-around business man, always ready to seize upon advanced business ideas. He is respected for his integrity and enterprise, and his genial and pleasant disposition well fits him for the proprietorship of the Mersman House. Mr. Mersman takes a deep interest in matters educational, and is ever ready to assist and encourage educational work. He is also known as one of the progressive men, lib- eral and benevolent in all works of charity and public enterprises, assisting both with his time and his means, and is a man well re- spected wherever known.
EORGE MIEHLS, a well-to-do and prominent farmer of Jackson town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, was born mu Pittsburg, Pa., November 11, 1848, and is the son of George and Mary (Hegner) Michls. The father was a native of Bavaria, .Germany, and was born October 24, 1818, and was a weaver by occupation. In 1844 he came to America and located at Pittsburg, where he was a collier for fourteen years. On February 14, 1847, he was united in marriage to Mary A. Hegner, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and born February 27, 1823, com- ing to America when she was four years of i
age. She was the daughter of George Herman and Regina Hegner, and became mother of a family of eleven children: George, the sub- ject of this sketch; Joseph and Catherine, twins, the former a farmer of Jennings town- ship, and Catherine the wife of Clements Pund, of Ottawa; Mary, wife of I. N. Kahle, of Ottawa, whose sketch may elsewhere be found; Barbara, wife of William Kohlhoff, a cabinet maker of Glandorf; Regina, in a con- vent at New Riegle, Seneca county; Clara, wife of William H. Rower, of Jackson town- ship, whose sketch may also be found in this volume: Benjamin A., a stock buyer of Otto- ville; Frank, a liveryman of Ottoville; Ther- ess, wife of Elvin Rower, and John Albert, a commercial man of Toledo, Ohio. After his marriage the father of our subiect livel in Pittsburg until 1858, then moved to Carroll county, Ohio, and followed farming until 1866, in the fall of which year he came to Greens- burg township, Putnam county, where he pur- chased a tract of land of 100 acres, only twenty of which were cleared; this he sold in 1872 and bought the farm where George Miehils now resides. This land was but little improved, only a small clearing having been made. Here he lived until his death, which occurred Octo- ber 3, 1876. In sunning up h's life it may be said: He had served six years in the German army; he was a faithful Catholic and a mem- ber of the Ottoville church; a democrat in poli- tics, he had been township trustee and died an honored man. The wife and mother still lives in Ottoville, and in April, 1893, was united in marriage to P. Wanemacher, an ex-sheriff of Putnam county-a sketch of whose life may be found in this book and read with interest.
George Michls, of whom the remainder of this sketch will in the main concern, was edu- cated in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and after ten years of age lived on a farm. At nineteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade,
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which he followed for nine years, spending one summer in Indiana and one in Tennessee. His marriage to Margaret Keifer occurred May 31, 1881; she was the daughter of Peter Keifer, of whom a sketch has been prepared for this vol- nme. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miehls: Valentine, born May 18, 1882; Gertie and Bertha, born September 5, 1884; Frances, born July 8, 1886; Edward, born June 12, 1888; Adeline, born August 17, 1892, and George Herbert, born August 25, 1895. The mother was born in Iowa, June 9, 1857. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miehls lived at Douglas, Ohio, where Mr. Miehls was en- gaged in the mercantile business and was rail- way agent for nine years. From Douglas they moved to Montana and after four years' resi- dence came, in 1894, to the place where they now live. In religion Mr. Michls is a Catho- lic and a communicant of the Ottoville church ; politically a democrat. He received the elec- tion of township treasurer but did not serve, having no special desire for public office or honors. He is a splendid citizen -- wide-awake, up-and-doing and progressive.
Peter Keifer, the father of Mrs. George Miehls, was born January 12, 1824, in Luxem- burg, Germany, where his father lived until 1851, when he came to Seneca county, Ohio, and in 1859 to Putnam connty, where his death occurred in 1892. The mother died in 1893, seven months after the decease of her husband. Peter Keifer was reared and educated in Ger- many, living upon a farm, and in 1849 came to the United States, living in New York for two years, but coming to Ohio with his par- ents in 1851. April 20, 1854, he was married to Susan Wagner, and in this union eleven chil- dren were born. Mrs. Keifer was born in Luxemburg, January 14, 1835, coming to America with her parents in 1846, they first settled in Buffalo, N. Y., where the e remained five years, and in 1851 came to Seneca county.
Ohio, and later to Putnam. The mother died in 1879 and the father in 1881, both members of the Catholic church. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keifer made a number of moves, but finally located on their present place in Putnam county, where they have since lived surrounded by their children and many friends and in the full enjoyment of the fruits of their thrift and industry.
T. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. -- To Father Mueller may be given the credit of furnishing the following ac- count of the origin of the Catholic congregation of Ottoville, Putnam county, Ohio: The Miami & Erie canal was built through northwestern Ohio during the years 1843-45. When this canal was built through the section of the country where Ott ville is now situated, there was nothing but a wilder- ness between that and Lake Erie. When the the canal was completed, some of the labor- ers, for some reason or other, remained here as settlers and even induced some of their rel- atives in Cincinnati and other places. espec- ially Seneca county, Ohio, to join them.
In the year 1846 Father Otto Bredeik, the pioneer priest of Delphos, after whom Otto- ville was named, paid the new settlers a visit and found in all ten Catholic famihes. He gathered the small flock and held divine serv- ices for them, once a month, in the private dwelling of Joseph C. Fournier, until 1858. During Father Bredeik's administration he purchased the land npon which the village of Ottoville now stands, which land he donated to the congregation to be laid out in lots --- the proceeds of the sale of the lots to be used for the purpose of binding a church. In 1858 Father Bredeik died, and Father Westerholt succeeded him and continued the monthly visits nutil 1860. During his adminstration a frame
ST. MARY'S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH TTOVILLE, OHIO.
Rov. Minibael Mueller.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
church, 40 x 80, was built at a cost of $3,000. Mr. Fred Heitz, of Delphos, was the contractor. From 1861 to 1864 Father Goebels, of Fort Jennings, administered to the spiritual wants of the new congregation twice a month. The first resident priest was Father Abel, who came here in 1865 and remained until 1866. He was succeeded by Father D. H. Best, who had charge of the congregation until 1867. Father M. Mueller, the present pastor, took charge on March 15, 1868. An excellent view of this noble structure will be found on an adjacent page preceding.
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EV. MICHAEL MUELLER, one of the leading members of the Catholic clergy of northwestern Ohio and the founder of the new church of Saint Mary's at Ottoville, Putnam county, was born January 21, 1833, in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, a son of John and Elizabeth (Frey; Mueller. He received an excellent comnon- school education in his native country, and at the age of eighteen years thought it prudent to come to America. July 5, 1852, he arrived in New York city. Coming to Ohio, he first taught school in Huron, Washington and Craw- ford counties, for four years, and then attended Saint Mary's seminary at Cleveland, Ohio, and next the Assumption college at Windsor, Canada, studied philosophy at Saint Benedict's and elsewhere, and then studied theology at Saint Mary's seminary at Cleveland, Ohio; was ordained June 25, 1865, and was assigned to the congregation at Rockport, Ohio, and ministered to that charge two and one-half years, and then came, March 15, 1868, to Ottoville, and assinned charge of Saint Mary's congregation, which he has since filled to the unbounded satisfaction of his flock. He found the church building a small frame affair, the country with no roads, and the hamlet sur- 20
rounded with forest trees of primeval growth, to drain which no attempt had ever been made, and in the rainy season the mud was simply terrible. The pastors had previously endured great hardship and had a hard struggle, and Father Mueller at once turned his energies in the direction of a remedy for these unpleasant conditions. By persistent effort he at last succeeded in securing sufficient funds by con- tribution to justify the laying the corner-stone for the present large and elegant structure, and June 22, 1885, that important event took place, and the completed edifice was dedicated for divine services September 23, 1888. The cost had reached something over $50,000, and when the briefness of the period in which the funds were raised is taken into consideration, what praise can be measured out to the pastor for the pluck, energy and indefatigable industry with which he succeeded in accomplishing so herculean a task? Nor should praise be with- held from the devoted congregation, who con- tributed so freely of their means and labor in forwarding this worthy undertaking, and many names among the more liberal contributors to the commendable enterprise will be found scattered throughont these pages. Too much credit, indeed, cannot be given the pions pas- tor for his zeal in raising this noble structure in honor of his God and his faith, nor to the pardonable pride of his flock for their early aid in the erecting of a structure meet for the as- sembling of so devoted a congregation. But a weak description of this architectural pride of Ottoville can here be given. Suffice it to say that the building is of brick, with stone base- ment and trimmings, 175 feet long and seven- ty-eight feet wide, and has two towers, each 180 feet high, and is so situated as to form a prominet and effective object to the view of an observer at a distance. The auditorium is decorated in a most tasteful manner and artis- tically finished in every detail. This beautiful
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structure is the result of Father Mueller's fruit- fnl conception, and will stand for ages as a monument to his venerated name. The con- gregation comprises 250 families, and the communicants number 1,000 -- a small num- ber, indeed, to have achieved so grand a task as that of having erected this noble house of worship; yet it may be admitted that the vil- lage of Ottoville and the vicinity are almost entirely composed of the devotees of the church of Rome, and none others take more interest in church affairs, while they pursue, at the same time, those industries which lead to the temporal welfare of the country in which they have their home. Of the reverend priests of this faith within the county of Putnam none stand higher in the record of its progress than . Father Mneller, of Ottoville, and Father Hoeffel, of Delphos, for energy and devotion to duty, the civilization of a frontier commun- ity and the beatification of themselves and the inhabitants of the land in which they dwell.
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