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 41
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Gerhard H. Otte received a good common- school education in Germany, and at the age of sixteen years sailed from Bremen, and after a tedious voyage of eight weeks and three days landed in New York in June, 1851. He im- mediately repaired to Albany via a Hudson river steamer, in company with his second cousin, Henry Esch, who later located in Ot- tawa, Ohio, but subsequently returned to Germany. From Albany the young man went to Buffalo, N. Y., via the Erie canal, thence via the lake to Erie, Pa., then by canal to Beaver, Pa., and then via the Ohio river, reached Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and finally reached section No. 10, at Delphos, on the Miami & Erie canal. A few days later he came to Ottoville, and in the latter part of the year Mr. Otte settled on section No. 16, in Monterey township. He first engaged in driving an os team and haul- ing logs, as the county was all woods. Being unacclimated, he was seized with fever and ague and was compelled to retire to Delphos.
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On partial recovery he began working in a cooper shop in Delphos, learned the trade and followed it for nine years, and then retired to Ottoville, where, in 1860, he embarked in mer- cantile trade, and was one of the first merchants of that town, H. W. Beckman alone having preceded him. Mr. Otte at once formed a partnership with Matthias Winkleman, but, in 1887. Mr. Winkleman sold his interest in the business, and Mr. Otte held control until !891, when he sold out and retired from active life, after an experience of over thirty years in the conduct of mercantile affairs.
Mr. Otte has always chung to the religions faith of his ancestors, who had been Roman Catholics for generations, and is one of the councilmen of St. Mary's Immaculate church and was a member of the building committee on the erection of the present edifice. In poli- tics Mr. Otto is a democrat, and was appointed the second postmaster of Ottoville, by Presi- dent Buchanan-his parner, Mr. Winkleman, being the first appointed, and after the death of that gentleman, who had served a second time, about 1880, Mr. Otte was again ap- pointed and held the office until 1893. He is an honored and trusted citizen and for thirty years has filled the office of township treasurer and for six years has been a notary public. During the war he was a member of the home guards and was billeted at Camp Lucas, Ohio.
Mr. Otte was united in marriage with Miss Annie Warst, who was born in 1842, in Craw- ford county, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Annie (Keever) Wurst, of Bavaria, Germany. but early settlers of Crawford county, Ohio. The result of the marriage of Mr. Otte was ten children, viz: Joseph S., John P., Annie A., Mary C., Girard H., Lizzie E., Louis W .. Ferdinand W., Leo J. C., and William M., all bom in Ottoville. The mother of this fam- ily was laid to rest March 26, 1891. She was a loving wife, an indulgent mother, a woman
of many good qualities and a devout member of the Catholic church. Mr. Otte is a gentle- man whose integrity has never been doubted, and who is honored for the part he has taken in building up the town in which he lives, and is esteemed for his just life and charitable dis- position, and for his genial and friendly tem- perament.
O AVID F. OWENS is one of the en- terprising and most successful young agriculturists of Monroe township, owning a fine farm which is eligibly located, the soil brought to a good state of cultivation, and the farm buildings of that style of architecture amply indicative of the solid and substantial character of the proprietor. John B. Owens, paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Wales who came to the United States when he was twenty-eight years of age. Soon after his arrival he married and settled in Trumbull county, Ohio. This was in an early day, and he possessed himself of a tract of new land, which was soon converted into a good home. He afterward sold his property and removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where the couple lived until their death. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Strame, and both were prominently identified with the Methodist church. Mr. Owens, politically, was a Jack- sonian democrat, and was a man of influence and respectability.
Our subject's father, also named John B. Owens, was born in Trumbull county, January 26, 1817. After attaining to manhood he en- gaged in agriculture, but was also known as a most successful teacher, he having followed that profession for many years in Trumbull, Guernsey and Putnam counties. He was a man of rare intelligence, and pursued a wide course of reading, thus ever keeping fully
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abreast with the times. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Rachel Spencer, who was born in Guernsey county, February 16, 1832, being a daughter of John and Eliza (Sevin) Spencer, early pioneers of Guernsey county. Our sub- ject's parents were blessed with five children, as follows: Elizabeth A., wife of William Fickle; Emma J., wife of William Gallispie; David F., the subject of this review; Amanda, wife of David Grant; and Ida C. The parents lived in Guernsey county until 1873, when they moved to Putnam county, settling in Monroe township, where they have developed a fine eighty-acre farm. They were industrious peo- ple and prominent in church and Sunday- school work. The father died February 15, 1890, and the mother still resides upon the old farm.
David F. Owens, our subject, was born in Guernsey county, the date of his nativity being Feburary 1, 1855. He was only nine years of age when his parents removed to this county, and he has ever since made this place his home, following the vocation of farining. Febuary 16, 1881, he led to the hymeneal alter Miss Ida M. Gilbert, who was born in this township September 15, 1863. She is the daughter of Jacob and Martha A. (Butler) Gilbert, Mr. Gil- bert being deceased. They were prominent and respected members of the farming com- munity in which they lived, and consistent members of the Disciples' Church, and both were teachers in the public schools.
The farm of our subject is a model one of 121 acres, and makes a most comfortable home. He is a strong democrat, and has been honored with positions of trust within the gift of the people. He has filled one terin of town- ship trustee, and the second term of his in- cumbency of the office of township assessor is now being completed by him. He is socially very popular, and fraternally is a member of Oakwood lodge, No. 737, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, while both he and wife are charter members of Monroe grange, No. 376, of which he was the first master.
APT. NOAH W. OGAN, one of the leading citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, residing on his farm in the edge of Columbus Grove, was born on a farm in Greene county, Ohio, near Fort William, on October 3, 1821. His parents were Peter and Jane (Jenkins) Ogan, the for- mer being a native of England and the latter of Wales. Peter Ogan came to America when a boy, his parents settling in Pennsylvania. His wife also came over with her parents when she was young, and she likewise was reared in the Keystone state.
The parents were married in Pennsylvania and removed from that state to Belmont county, Ohio, where they resided for about ten years. From Belmont county they re- moved to Greene county, and in 1834 they came to Putnam county and located on a farm in section No. 35, Pleasant township. When they came to this locality there were but few settlers here, there being no roads save those blazed out through the timber. They con- tinned to live in the township the balance of their lives, the mother dying about 1840 and' the father about 1870, both being members of the Methodist Episcopal church. There were thirteen children born to the parents, five sons and eight daughters, twelve of whom were reared to manhood and womanhood. Of these children our subject was the tenth in number, and was reared on the farm in Greene and Putnam counties.
Noah W. Ogan, when about sixteen years of age, became dissatisfied, and left home, remaining away about four years, putting in that period working in different parts of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, working on farms.
CAPT N. W. OGAN.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
During this time he attended school somewhat, during the winter months, chopping wood for his board while going to school. Returning home on a visit, he remained in Putnam county, working around at various kinds of work, prin- cipally on farms, but did not live with his par- ents. He then took up the study of medicine, which he continued for about one and a half years, when he concluded to abandon that pro- fession, as his observations were that physicians were not very prosperous. Previous to this he had purchased a tract of 160 acres of land in Pleasant township, making the first payment on the land with money he had earned during the four years he was away from home, and he now went to work clearing up his farm, which he continued several years. He then determined he would be a lawyer by profes- sion, and getting hold of some law books, he read them, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar at Kalida, and practiced until the war came on. During the summer of 1861 he he raised a company in and around Columbus Grove and took them to Camp Dick Robinson, he having been commissioned captain as soon as he had raised the company. This became company K, of the Fourteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, Col. Steadman (afterward a general) commanding. The regiment be- canie a part of the army of the Tennessee. The first engagement of the company was at Wild Cat, Ky., and their next fight of any consequence was at Mill Springs, Ky. They were at Fort Donelson, and Shiloh, and later at Corinth, and then in Alabama. Next they were in and around Nashville, Tenn., thence after Bragg up through Kentucky toward Louis- ville. They were at Stone river and other points in middle Tennessee, and then over into cast Tennessee to Chattanooga. He was at the battle of Chickamauga, and there had a most remarkable experience. For several days previous to the battle of Chickamauga, Cap-
tain Ogan had been ill and unable to march, and when the battle began he was lying sick . in an ambulance about half a mile from the line of battle. As soon as he saw the wounded being brought to the rear, some of whom were from his own company, he buckled on his own sword, and, jumping out of the ambulance, started for his regiment, but not knowing its exact location brought up with the Thirty-first Ohio regiment, then in line of battle. The line was demoralized and in a bad shape, and the captain began encouraging them, getting order restored, and soon ordered an advance, he taking the lead. The enemy made a charge about that time, and he, being in the advance of the line, walked right into the line of the enemy before he knew it, or before even the enemy realized it. Finding himself thus inside the enemy's lines, with death or imprisonment facing him, he determined to make his escape or die in the attempt. See- ing a line of the enemy standing not far distant he approached them and very coolly informed the captain that the Union forces had been re- inforced during the night, and in a few min- utes they would begin shelling the woods where they were standing. He told the rebel captain that he did not want to see too many men slaughtered, and advised them to withdraw. This they did, the line falling back. Capt. Ogan continued on in hopes of finding an op- portunity of escaping or of hiding himself, when he ran into another line of the enemy. He approached the captain and told him the same story he had to the other captain, and this second line fell back. A third line was encountered, and again the captain told his story, but this rebel captain did not believe him and ordered him to surrender. The cap- tain demurred, and told the rebel there was no need of his surrendering, for they were all surrounded by Union soldiers, and in a few minutes more would be captured. But the
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Johnny captain insisted on his surrendering, and he gave up his sword, after which two soldiers were detailed to escort him to Gen. Bragg's headquarters. While being marched along in front of the two soldiers, some of the time at double-quick, he was turning over in his mind various plans for escape, as he was still determined to escape or die in the attempt. He had about decided to make a sudden stop while on the double-quick, thus compelling the soldiers to pass by him, when he would grab the musket from one, bayonet the other, and then shoot the unarmed one, when he spied what he supposed was the Federal army lying down. A second look, however, showed him that instead of it being a line of battle it was nothing more nor less than the dead and wounded from what had once been the line of battle. His plan was formed in an instant, and calling out sharp and quick to his captors to halt, he demanded of one of them to give him his gun. This the bewildered soldier did, whereupon the other guard asked what he should do with his gun. "Throw it down," commanded the captain; then he took his sword from the one who was carrying it to Gen. Bragg, and buckling it on, took up the gun and commanded the two guards to "about face," and back he started them on the track they had first come over. Soon he ran across two stragglers, and ordered them to fall in and march on, and soon was in sight of the line of battle that had taken him prisoner. When he was within about seventy-five yards from this line he commanded oblique in a very loud tone of command, and marched them up to a small squad of rebels, whom he ordered to "fall in and be ---- quick about it, as he was in a hurry;" with his squad, then comprising ten men, he double-quicked into his own lines, at about the same place he had left them, all of this in plain view of the enemy's line of battle. It occurred to the captain, when he saw his
move was going to be successful, to stop and take in the enemy that had taken him pre- viously, and he could no doubt have done it, but on second thought he concluded he was doing well enough in escaping with his ten pris- oners and his own life, so did not attempt the bold scheme of capturing alone a full company. The captain was warmly congratulated upon his feat, and was urged to let an application for a medal be made, but this he refused.
The captain took part both days in the fighting at Chickamauga; afterward he was at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and was in the battle at Chattanooga. After the Chatta- nooga campaign, the regiment of which Capt. Ogan was a member was furloughed home in January, returning in March, 1864, and joining the forces at Ringgold. Ga., with Sher- man. At Jonesboro, Ga., before Sierman's army had gotten into Atlanta, Capt. Ogar was wounded in the left arm above the elbow with a minie ball, which necessitated amputa- tion. The same night his arm was taken off he rode in an ambulance fifteen miles to the rear, and next day he went with the army into Atlanta. He was in the hospital at Atlanta from the time he was wounded until about the middle of October. When the army started on its march to the sea, Capt. Ogan was mus- tered out of the service, and with the wounded and sick started on the return to Chattanooga. Before they had gone far up the railroad to- ward Chattanooga they found the track torn np in front, and attempted to return, but found themselves in a trap. He then undertook to escape in the confusion, but was captured. With others he was taken to Andersonville prison, but, being an officer, he was not con- fined there, though about Soo men captured with him were imprisoned. Instead, he was taken to Columbia S. C., and was there about one and a hat months Thence he was taken to Charleston, where he was held as a
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
prisoner one day and two nights, at which time he was exchanged and went aboard one of the government boats, then in the harbor at Charles- ton, and was brought north, the vessel car- rying him up Chesapeake bay, to Annapolis, from which place he went to Washington, D. C., thence to his home, reaching there on the 25th of December, 1864. After the was closed Capt. Ogan ran a warehouse in Columbus Grove for a couple of years and then moved on his farm, where he lived about two years. He then returned to Columbus Grove and en- gaged in the practice of law, at which he con- tinued until about 1885, when he retired from active practice and has since resided on his farm near town, where he has forty-one acres handsomely improved. Capt. Ogan also owns several other farms in Putnam county-alto- gether some 700 acres of improved and unim- proved land. He also owns two large brick business rooms on High street, Columbus Grove, and the property occupied by the City Hotel and the same street. For several years Copt. Ogan was revenue assessor of Putnam county and was also elected justice of the peace, which office he held a year and then resigned. In politics he is a stanch republican.
In 1848 Capt. Ogan was married to Miss Nancy . Custer, who was born in Tusca- rawas county, Ohio, and proved herself a true helpmate. She was called to the home be- yond in 1868, leaving two children, viz: J. S. Ogan, an attorney of Ottawa, and Jenny, now the wife of D. A. Hemley, of Columbus Grove. In 1875 Capt. Ogan was married to Emma Elliott, the daughter of John Elliott, deceased, and to this union have been born three chil- dren, of whom two are now living-Serretus W., and Silas Jenkins, both at home. Capt. Ogan and wife are known as benevolent and enterprising citizens, being at all times ready to lend a helping hand to all charitable and worthy demands.
J ULIUS S. OGAN, who is prominent among the successful members of the Ottawa bar and is the senior of the law firm of Handy & Ogan, has been en- gaged in the practice of his profession in this city since 1883. Mr. Ogan is a native of Put- nam county, Ohio, born January 9, 1850, a son of Noah W. and Nancy (Custer) Ogan -- the mother deceased and the father a resident of the town of Columbus Grove.
Julius S. Ogan was born on a farm near Columbus Grove, and when a lad of ten years was taken by his parents to the village, where he grew to manhood, attending in the mean- time the common schools, in which he acquired his elementery education. Later, he entered Oberlin college, from which he was graduated in 1876, and two years later, completed the law, course in the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After his admission to the bar, Mr. Ogan began the practice of law at Colum- bus Grove, where he remained until the latter part of 1882, at which time he came to Ottawa, and effected a co-partnership with Hon. John M. Sheets, present common pleas judge of Putnam county, and the firm thus formed con- tinued until May 10, 1894, when Judge Sheets retired, Hon. William H. Handy taking his place. The firm of Handy & Ogan has con- tinued since the latter year, and has a reputa- tion much more than local throughout the coun- ties of northeastern Ohio.
Mr. Ogan entered the profession well forti- fied with scholastic and legal training, soon succeeded in establishing a good practice, and has been remarkably successful. By strict at- tention to business, sterling integrity and gen- tlemandy manners, he has won the reputation of a careful and painstaking lawyer, and is the legal adviser of many prominent men of Ot- tawa and Putnam county. Mr. Ogan is one of the leading republicans of Ottawa, and has contributed to his party's success in a number
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of campaigns. He served as mayor of Colum- bus Grove, and, at different times, was his party's candidate for important official posi- tions, notably those of representative, probate judge and prosecuting attorney, but never suc- ceeded in overcoming the overwhelming demo- cratic majority, which still obtains in Putnam county. He is a member of the F. & A. M., belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, and coun- cil, in all of which he has been honored with important positions. Mr. Ogan was married in the town of Columbus Grove, December 25, 1882, to Miss Estella Turner, daughter of William and Martha Turner, a union blessed with the birth of four children, viz: Mattie, Myrtle, Mildred and Julius S.
RANK ELWOOD PALMER, mein- ber of the firm of Palmer & Crawford, dealers in pine lumber at Columbus Grove, Ohio, was born in Monroe township, Allen county, July 3, 1863. He is a son of Thomas Palmer, deceased, whose par- ents were pioneers of Allen county. Thomas Palmer was a native of Pennsylvania, was born near Harrisburg in 1821, and came to Allen county, Ohio, with his parents, while it was very new. He was married, in Monroe township, to Mary M. Stirlen, who was also born in Pennsylvania, and came to Putnam county with her parents, who settled about one mile east of Columbus Grove, in Putnam county, at an early date. The father of Mr. Palmer died in 1868. His widow was again married in 1872, becoming the wife of Joseph Bushong, of Hancock county, who is now re- siding on a farm in Monroe township, Allen county. To Thomas Pahner and wife five boys were born, viz: One who died in infancy; Joseph W., now a farmer and stock raiser of Van Wert county, Ohio; Samuel P. is a Pres- byterian minister, and now residing at Oak-
land, Cal., where he has a charge; Frank E. (our subject), and Daniel R., now a farmer on the old home farm in Monroe township, Allen county.
Frank E. Palmer was reared on the home farm in Monroe township, Allen county, first attended the district schools, and at the age of sixteen years went to Ada and attended the university at that place for two years. Re- turning home, he remained on the farin for two years, but, not being satisfied, in 1884 he went to Kansas, where he improved a claim of 160 acres in Meade county. In 1885 he went to No Man's land (now Oklahoma) and settled on the Beaver river, where he engaged in merchandising. In March, 1887, he was ap- pointed postmaster at Beaver, Ind. Ter., and was the first postmaster commissioned in No Man's Land. His commission bears date March 4, 1887, signed by Postmaster-Gen. Vilas. At about the same time the citizens formed a temporary town and county govern- ment, and Mr. Palmer was chosen county clerk. In 1888 he returned to his old home and married an old school-mate. Mr. Palmer remained in the Indian territory until 1889, when he sold out his business and returned to Monroe township, Putnam county, Ohio, and farmed until 1893, when he engaged in his present business in Columbus Grove, succeed- ing Henry Arnold. In the same year the firm of Palmer & Crawford was formed by the ad- mission of John M. Crawford as a full partner. Mr. Palmer has met with uniform success through life, and for a man of his age is con- fortably situated. Beside his lumber interests he now owns a farm of fifty-three acres in Richland township, Allen county, and also real estate in Kansas and Oklahoma. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Rufus Patnam lodge, No 364, of Columbus Grove. in the fall of 1894 Mr. Palmer was appointed a member of the board
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of health of Columbus Grove, and in the spring of 1895 was elected a member of the city council for a term of two years, when he re- signed his position in the board of health. He is a republican in politics.
On January 18, 1889, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage with Miss Dora E. Bowers, who was born in Monroe township, Allen county, August 10, 1865, and is the daughter of John and Ann Bowers, deceased. To this union the following children have been born: Mae, born in No Man's Land November 22, 1889; Mont B., born in Monroe township, Allen county, Ohio, on July 12, 1891; and Martha, born in the same township on May 28, 1893. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Presbyterian church. and Mr. Palmer is 1 thorough-going, up-to-date business man, and one highly respected wherever known.
A LVA L. PAUL, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of northwest- ern Ohio, and member of the medical firm of Paul & Paul, Ottawa, Putnam county, is a native of the Buckeye state, born on the 6th day of September, 1848, in the county of Fairfield. His father, Alva Paul, was a physician of wide reputation, noted also for his professional ability and scholarly attain- ments, having been a graduate of Yale college. Dr. Paul, Sr., was essentially a self-made man. It is stated that he was thrown upon his own resources at the early age of fourteen, at which time his sole earthly possessions consisted of a small bundle of clothing and a very limited supply of money. He succeeded in making his way through Yale, earning a little money in the meantime by teaching, and upon the day of graduation be was compelled to leave college on foot and alone, having completely exhausted his means for tuition and other ex- penses. He subsequently became a very suc-
cessful practitioner, and the once poor college lad lived to see himself in affluent circum- stances. The wife of Dr. Paul, mother of the subject of this mention, was Nancy Biglow, daughter of Rev. Henry Biglow, also a gradu- ate of Yale, and for many years a distinguished divine of the Congregational church. Mrs. Paul bore her husband the following children: Biglow H., deceased, for some years professor of mathematics in the university of Iowa; Mrs. Maria Clement, who was burned to death, in 1852, by the explosion of a lamp; Horace, a wealthy stock-raiser, of Chalk Mound, Kans. ; Dr. Alva L., and Helen, wife of Emmet Will- iams, of Portland, Ore.
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