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 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
B EV. FRANCIS NIGSCH, pastor of the Catholic church at Glandorf Put- nam county, Ohio, a son of Francis A. and Regina (Erhart) Nigsch. both deceased. Of the five children born to these parents, two are still living in Austria, the re- maining three coming to America. Of these three Rev. Christian Nigsch came to the United States when a young man of twenty years, in
386
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
1868, having been well educated in his native land, and having taught in the public schools. Here he entered the seminary at Carthagena, Mercer county, Ohio, and was ordained, in 1878, by Archbishop Purcell, in Cincinnati. He was for a time located in Jay county, Ind., and next given a charge at Saint John's, Mercer county, Ohio. He was next placed in charge at Winamac, Pulaski county, Ind .; was the pastor for five years, and there he built a beautiful church; in 1885 he was transferred to Minster, Auglaize county, Ohio, where, after another ministration of five years, he died No- vember 25. 1890, after a faithful service of thirteen years to his church and its people. Frederick Nigsch, another brother of our sub- ject and one of the three that came to Amer- ica, died in 1873, while being prepared for the priesthood.
Rev. Francis Nigsch, the subject of our sketch, came to the United States in 1866, and entered the theological seminary at Car- thagena, having passed through the classical course in his native land, and for five years was under tuition and discipline for the priest- hood. In January, 1872, he was ordained by Archbishop Purcell, and was given a charge in Mercer county, Ohio, which he retained about eighteen months. His next charge was at Saint Mary's, Auglaize county, Ohio, where he filled his sacred office for seven months, and then for three months ministered to the flock at Minster, in the same county, as assistant pastor. The next year was passed in the per- formance of church duties in Missouri, and from 1875 to 1881 he had the arduous charge of the congregation at Wapakoneta, Auglaize county, Ohio. He was next appointed to the pastorate of Glandorf, Putnam county, his present charge, where he has done much to- wird improving the church edifice and in strengthening the congregation, the member- ship of the latter being now nearly 300 fam-
ilies. The reverend father is progressive and indefatigable in his labors, and the beneficial results thereof are daily made apparent in the improved condition of his congregation, the in- creased beanty of the church building interiorly and exteriorly, and in the essential fact that he has succeeded in liquidating the church debt of upward of $14,000, aside from raising quite a large sum for furnishing the sacred edi- fice, amounting probably to an equal sum. His church is his only pride, and he is deserv- edly the pride of his congregation. In 1889 he traveled extensively in Europe, and while there visited Rome and was received by Pope Leo XIII, on June 23, that year
S AMUEL H. MYERS, a retired farmer and prominent and influential citizen of Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a son of Samuel and Mar- garet (Wishart) Myers, is a native of Perry township, and was born February 22, 1840. He was reared on his father's farm and educated in his native township, in the old log school-house, and on April 14, 1862, married Miss Mary E. Mercer, who was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, August 1, 1842, a daughter of Stephen and Catherine (Dillworth) Mercer, early settlers of the state, the mother being now a resident of Williams county. This union has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Abraham H., a farmer of Perry townslnp, and proprietor of the Cascade Resort; Margaret Catherine, wife of George Curtis, and Susanne, wife of A. J. Ladd, the husbands of both these ladies also being farmers of Perry township.
After marriage Samuel H. Myers located on a farm in Paulding county, Ohio, and for about a year he ran a canal boat. February 15, 1864, Mr. Myers enlisted in company G, Fifty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, served for eighteen months, and was honorably dis-
.
SAMUEL MYERS
JAMES MYERS.
391
OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
charged at Little Rock. Ark., the war having come to a close. He took part in fourteen regular and desperate engagements, beside a number of sanguinary skirmishes, which, in the early stages of the war, would have been de- nominated battles. Among the former were those at Resaca, Dallas, Dalton, Buzzard's Roost, Nickajack Creek (where he was wounded in the hip by a fragment of shell, from which. wound he has never fully recovered), Big Ken- esaw Mountain, Little Kenesaw Mountain (July 22), Atlanta, Jonesboro, Fort McAllister, Ra- leigh, N. C., Columbus, S. C,, and participated in the grand'review at Washington, D. C. In February, 1866, Mr. Myers bought his present place in Perry township, formerly his father's, having husbanded his earnings before and dur- ing the war. He had this land cleared and improved and engaged in farming, calling into play his accurate knowledge of this pursuit and making it profitable. He then for three years turned his attention to saw-milling and timber shipping, and for four years was interested in quarrying-furnishing stone for a number of bridges. During these periods his farming was not neglected, but was held under his own strict supervision, and he is now one of the largest land-owners in the township, and also has one of the finest home residences to be seen for miles around.
In politics Mr. Myers is a stanch republican, and by that party has been elected to the office of township trustee and to a number of minor positions, in all of which he has given the utmost satisfaction to the public and filled with credit to himself. As an agriculturist, and socialistic economist, he is a member of Perry grange, No. 567, Patrons of Husbandry, and in commemoration of the " sieges he has passed through, " is a member of Wisor post, No. 63, Grand Army of the Republic. His views in religious matters are liberal, and he freely con- tributes to the support of all denominations, as 21
well as to all educational enterprises, and to every well designed plan for the benefit of his native township and county, and has thus deservedly won the esteem and trne friendship of each and every man and woman throughout the broad expanse of Perry township.
J AMES MYERS, a skillful and well-to- do farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Licking county, September 7, 1833, a son of Daniel aud Dorcas (Critten) Myers, the for- mer also a native of Licking county, Ohio, and born in 1809.
George Myers, father of Daniel Myers above mentioned, was a native of Virginia of German descent, was educated in the German language and was an early settler of Licking county, Ohio. He married Elizabeth Horn, of Scotch-Irish descent, and reared a family of twelve children, of whom four are living, viz: David, of Auglaize county; Mrs. Elizabeth Elliott, of Saint John's, in the same county; Rhoda, wife of James Clutter, and Solomon, both of Licking county. Mr. and Mrs. George Myers were both devoted members of the Christian church, and in politics Mr. Myers was a democrat. Daniel Myers, son of George, and the sixth child born in the family of twelve above mentioned, was reared and edu- cated in his native county of Licking, and be- came an expert agriculturist. About the year 1829 he married Dorcas Critten, who was born in 1812, a daughter of James and Eliza- beth (Johnson) Critten. Her father, James Critten, was a native of Virginia, of Irish de- scent, and held a captain's commission in the war of 1812. He came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1839, and bought a farm in the woods, which, like the other sturdy frontiers- man of his day, he transformed into a com- ! fortable home, where he resided until his
392
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
death, a member of the Christian church, about the year 1856, and a highly honored citizen. Daniel Myers, after marriage, lived in Licking county until 1839, when he brought his family to Putnam county, bought one tract of eighty acres and entered an additional tract of forty acres of uncleared land, built a log cabin and proceeded, after the custom of the day, to clear up a farm from the wilderness, in which effort he met with success, and here passed the active days of his life until 1874, when he retired to Columbus Grove, but for the latter sixteen years of his life made his home under the filial roof of his son Jaines, our subject. In politics he was a democrat, and had served as school director and filled several of the township offices; in religion he was a member of the Christian church, in which he filled the office of deacon for many years, and in this faith he died, January 10, 1894, lamented and honored by a large circle of sincere and devoted friends. His three children-all that were born to their marriage -- were named, in order of birth, as follows: George, deceased; James, our subject; and Amanda, wife of John Dooley, of southern Missouri.
James Myers, the subject of this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits in Putnam county, having been but about six years of age when brought here by his parents. Here he was united in the bonds of matrimony in 1855, with Miss Deborah McDole, who was born in Beaver connty, Pa., June 29, 1835, a daugh- ter Matthew and Elizabeth (Stewart) McDole, of whom further mention will immediately be made. To the prolific marriage of James and Deborah Myers were born the family of thirteen children, viz: Ehzabeth C., wife of A. May- bury, of Rockport, Allen county, Ohio; Mat- thew L., a farmer of lowa; DanielS., of Pauld- ing county, Ohio; and Mrs, Dorcas Jane Van- demark, twin sister of Daniel S., of Sugar
Creek township, Putnam county; Sarah, wife of John Streator; Margaret A., wife of Charles Clarke, of Marion county; Martha F., wife of W. Streator, of Pleasant township, Putnam county; Mary Alice, wife of Stanley Goodwin, of Union township; Rosa, who died in Oc- tober, 1890; James William, Lillie F., Emma B., and Della M., at home with their parents.
Matthew McDole, the father of Mrs. Myers, was a native of Virginia, of Irish descent, and a son of Matthew McDole, a farmer and a soldier in the war of 1812. Matthew, the sol., had also volunteered and started for the field, but hostilities had closed before he reached the front. In 1837 the parents of Mrs. Myers came from Pennsylvania to Putnam county. Ohio, whence they moved to Allen cosaty and purchased land, but in 1850 returned to Put nam county and bought the farin on which Mr. Myers now resides, but which was then in the wilderness. After his marriage, however, Mr Myers first bought a tract of eighty acres in Union township, on which he lived ard which cultivated until 1875, when he settled on his present farm, as stated. In 1882 he erected a his handsome dwelling, which is an ornament to the neighborhood. In politics Mr. Myers : a democrat, and has served as township trustee for several years; he, with his wife an. children, is a member of the Christian church, of which he has long been a deacon. He i. one of the most progressive farmers of the township, and has made his mark as a good. sound, substantial citizen, and has won the warm regard of all classes.
S OLOMON MYERS, JR., sonof Solo mon, Sr., and a brother of john F. was born in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, May 20, 1850. and was given a good common-school educa tion near home. He lived on his father's farm
393
OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
until 1881, when he married Angeline Guyton, who was born in the same township in 1857 and there spent her childhood days. Her father, William Guyton, was a native of Vir- ginia, and her mother, Polly (Burkhart) Guy- ton, was born in eastern Ohio, near the Penn- sylvania line. After their marriage Mr. Myers and his young wife settled on his father's farm in Ottawa township and farined on it for two years, when they moved to the farm where they now live, and which at that time was still uncleared Mr. Myers built himself a house and then proceeded to clear a away the heavy timber. Soon he had converted the dreary forest land into a fine farm and he has con- tinued to improve it, ditching it thoroughly and putting good buildings on it. He has been very successful as a farmer and is an enterpris- ing citizen, being in politics a republican. His family consists of three children, viz: Mary, born July 4, 1883; Stella, deceased, and Ar- thur, who was born November 13, 1889.
a DWARD NEUFER, one of the most enterprising and industrions young farmers of Perry township, Putnam county, is the son of Samuel and Susan Nenfer, and was born in Franklin county, Ohio, January 1, 1859. His father porn in Maryland, and had there lived on a arm. Five other children blessed this union, iz: Calvin and Henry, living in Kansas; John, iving in Periy township; Florina, living some- vhere in the west, and Edward, the youngest und the subject of our sketch, who was left an orphan by the death of both parents when he vas but one year old.
Edward Nenfer was reared on the farm of Frank Demer in Franklin county, and given a an educatie in the common schools of the eighborhood At the age of fourteen, with a
courage rarely seen in one so young, he left the kind home which had sheltered him during his childhood, and resolutely braved the world and began an independent life as a day laborer and farm hand, determined to make the most of life and to take this seeming early misfor- tune cheerfully. He prospered, and on De- cember 11, 1879, he married Mary, a daugh- ter of Henry and Sarah (Wilcox) Davis, and born in Franklin county, March 5, 1861. After their marriage the happy and ambitious couple went upon a rented farm in Franklin county and worked hard, from early to late, for ten years, and by: 1889 they had prospered so well that they were able to buy a piece of timber in Perry township, Putnam county, and there moved his wife and family, which then consisted of four children-Minnie, born in October, 1880; Clara, born February 5, 1883, and died when eight years old; Allie, born No- vember II, 1885; and Ottie, born September 15, 1887. He set resolutely to work to clear the farm which he had just purchased, and as time passed he could gradually, but surely see, as a result of his industry, a fine farm forming itself out of what had but a short time before been a dense forest. He cleared sixty acres of the land, and has ever since kept it in an ex- cellent state of cultivation. Here three more children have been added to his family -- Stella, born March 23, 1890; Addie, born March 13, 1893, and one, Clara, who has been taken away from the happy family.
Mr. Neufer, besides farming his land, raises fine stock, and has been very successful in both callings. He is essentially a self-made man, and can truthfully say that what he owns is the result of his own perseverance and in- dustry, and, though he started out in the world with nothing but his indomitable courage and industry, he now can point to much, the result of faithfulness in little things, out of which have come great things. He is a liberal
394
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and public-spirited citizen, and respected and honored by all for his thrift and uprightness. In politics he is a democrat.
MOS NICHOLS, son of Edward and Margaret (Ervin) Nichols, is a native of Putnam county, Ohio, and was born October 7, 1850, Edward Nichols having been a resident of Putnam county since 1836 and dying in 1863. Amos, our subject, has passed all his life in Union township, where he was reared on the home farm, and where he was educated in the old- fashioned log school-house. January 7, 1872, he married Miss Martha E. Hayden, who is also a native of Putnam county, born May 22, 1854, a daughter of Nathaniel and Louisa (Brothers) Hayden, both natives of Ohio, who settled in Putnam county in 1848; here Mrs. Louisa Hayden died in 1858, Mr. Hayden re- marrying. Mr. and Mrs. Hayden were the parents of the following children: Lydia J., wife of B. F. Erwin, of Pleasant township; Caroline, wife of D. Salyards, of Iowa; Isaiah, Nathaniel and Hester A., deceased; Eli, of Nebraska; Martha, wife of Mr. Nichols, and Sarah E., deceased. The children born to Amos and Martha E. Nichols were eleven in number and were born in the following order: Lucinda, wife of Phineas Shane, of Vaughns- ville; Clark and Alvin, farmers, at home; Mina May, also at home; Gilbert L., aged fifteen years; Hannah, aged eleven, attending school; Grover C., Edward, Elmer, Ethel and Hazel. Mr. Nichols bought the farm he now occupies shortly after or just about the time of his mar- riage, and through hard work and incessant industry cleared it from the woods, and con- verted it into one of the most productive and elegant pieces of farming land in the county. In 1888 he erected his present commodious
and convenient dwelling, and he has also im- proved his place with all requisite barns and out- buildings, of modern and improved construc- tion. He is one of the most successful and in- telligent farmers of the township and has served as a school director, but he has never sought public office either as a matter of am- bition or for the emolument pertaining thereto. He is a genial neighbor and a public-spirited citizen, taking a broad and active interest in the affairs of the county which has always been his home, is a kind husband, and an in- dulgent father, as well as faithful friend.
J OSEPH NIENBERG, one of the lead ing merchants of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, has been a resident (. the place since 1858, having en: ne here when a lad of fifteen years. He was born i Minster, Auglaize county, Ohio, September 13, 1843, a son of B. H. and Angela (Sprehe; Nienberg, who were natives of Germany, were married in Minster, Ohio, where the father was a dry-goods and general merchant, and where he died at the age of about sixty years and his wife in 1892, when upwards of seven- ty-nine years old. They were the parents of six children, viz: Mary, widow of Henry Luckman; Joseph, our subject; Wilham, a merchant of Minster; Amie, deceased wife of August Stechschulte: Agnes, deceased wife of William Rampe; of Ottawa, and Bernardina, deceased wife of Barnard Miners.
Joseph Nienberg, our subject, was reared and educated in Minster until fifteen years of age, when he came to Glandorf and learne; the tinner's trade; at which he was employed four years, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio where he worked two years, and the returned to Glandorf and operated a tin shop one year lle then formed a partnership, at Ottawa,
395
OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
with Mr. Stechschulte in the manufacture of furniture and operated a foundry for about four years, when Mr. Neinberg re-embarked in the tinner's trade until 1875, when he opened a general merchandise store, but still continued to operate his tin shop. In March, 1893, he formed a partnership with Joseph Thome in the hardware and tinware business combined, under the firm naine of Joseph Thome & Co., but still retained his general store, where his stock is replete with every- thing usually found in similar establishments, while the immense hardware concern is the only store of that character in the town. In his politics Mr. Nienberg is a democrat. He was the first postmaster of Glandorf, and held the office for fourteen years; he is the present treasurer and a member of the school board; also treasurer of Glandorf corporation; is vice- president of the Glandorf Building & Loan as- sociation, of which he was one of the founders, and has always been a live wide-awake citizen, quick to discern what was for the public good. and prompt to carry into effect any measure that his financial contributions could promote.
Mr. Nienberg has been twice married; first, in 1865, in Glandorf, to Miss Anna Kemper, who was born in the town, and died in 1880; secondly, he married, in 1881, Miss Veronica Thome, who is also a native of Glandorf, and to this union have been born six children, viz: Bernard A., Harry H., Joseph F., Edward, Oscar and Mary. The parents are inembers of Saint John's Catholic courch, and socially are much respected. Mr. Nienberg is a self- made man, in the sense in which the term is usually used, having been a close applicant to business ever since he began at the bottom of the ladder; he has always been quick to per- ceive opportunities for advancing his interests as they presented themselves, and these good qualities of the business man have been fully recognized by an appreciative public.
HARLES C. NUTTER, a native-born farmer of Putnam county, Ohio, and one of the most enterprising young business men of Leipsic, is the fourth son in the family born to Clement and Cor- delia (Hitchcock) Nutter. His paternal grand- father, Thomas Nutter, was a native of Dela- ware, of Irish -parentage, and died at his home near Dover, the capital of the state.
Clement Nutter, father of our subject, was born in Delaware, near Dover, in 1813, was reared on the home farm, and in 1834 came to Ohio, and settled in Fairfield county, where he resided until 1844, when he came to Put- nam county, selected eighty acres in Blanchard township for a homestead, and subsequently purchased lands until his acreage reached 1,000 acres; of this he cleared and placed under cultivation about 500 acres, and was one of the most enterprising and wide-awake agri- culturists the country ever knew. He was a whig and then a republican in politics, but was never an office seeker on any occasion. He died in peace and tranquility on his homestead in Blanchard township in 1877. an honored citizen and a deeply mourned husband and father. His wife, whom he had married in Fairfield county, became the mother of the following children: William H., Sarah A. (Mrs. David Worden), Blythe G., John W., Charles C. (our subject), Ansel (deceased), Jane (deceased), Rebecca C. (Mrs. Isaac Baker) and Elvira (Mrs. Louis Clark).
Charles C. Nutter, the subject of this sketch, was born on the homestead in Blanchard town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, May 11, 1850; was educated in the common schools, and was reared to farming, inheriting the homestead at his father's death. To this farm he added ten acres and continued the cultivation of the ninety acres until 1878, when he purchased his present farm of too acres in Van Buren township, which he has cleared, ditched and
396
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
placed under an admirable state of cultivation as well as improved with first-class buildings. In 1890 he purchased the tile factory at Leip- sic, established by George Lewis in 1885, and which comprises five acres of land, with a building 20 x 220 feet, connected with a wing 20 x 110 feet, and operated by a twenty-horse- power engine inclosed in a house 20 x 25 feet; the tile manufactured is from three and one- half to twelve inches in diameter, and the out- put is 12,000 tile daily; his brick-kiln has a capacity of 15,000 daily and is fitted with the latest improved machinery, giving employment constantly to eight men.
In 1893 Mr. Nutter was the chief factor in establishing the Leipsic Creamery company, of which he was the president; an office he still holds, the other officers and stockholders being as follows: D. A. Fonck, secretary; Isaac Levarson, treasurer; William Hasselman, Fred Schroder, B. F. Myer, Eli Buckland, H. D. Mack and A. Newmier, directors. The build- ing is 45 x 50 feet and the machinery is com- plete in every detail, operated by a six-horse- power engine with a twelve-horse boiler, and a capacity of 20,000 pounds milk daily, giving constant employment to two men.
Mr. Nutter was most happily married No- vember 23, 1871, to Miss Elmira L., daughter of Joseph Oren, of Blanchard township, and this union has been blessed with the following children: Bertha G. (deceased), Oren C., Putnam C., Leroy D., Charles F. and Dean Mc. In politics Mr. Nutter is a republican and has filled the office of township trustee. With his wife he is a member of the Protestant Methodist church of Blanchard township, and the social standing of the family is with the best people of the township and county. Al- though a comparatively young man, Mr. Nutter has manifested amazing business qualifications that have led to an undeniable success in all his undertakings, and he is a citizen well
worthy of the high esteem in which he is held throughout Blanchard and surrounding town- ships.
ERHARD H. OTTE, prominent as a citizen of Ottoville, Monterey town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, was born May 13, 1834, on his father's farm, near Osnabruck, Germany. His father, also named Gerhard, was the owner of fifty-six acres of land in Hanover, which has been in the family for generations and on which he passed all his life. He married Agnes Barlag, and to this union were born eight children, in the following order: Gerhard H., Agnes, Elizabeth, Catherine, Henry, Joseph, Mary E. and George. He was a devout Catholic, and died in that faith at the age of eighty-three years. Of the above children, Gerhard H. and Joseph came to America.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.