USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 53
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Pliny Trumbo, the immediate subject of this review, was reared on the old homestead farm and received his early educational training in:
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the common schools. On the 12th of September, 1862, he gave dis- tinctive evidence of his intrinsic loyalty by enlisting as a private in Com- pany E, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by General William H. Gibson. The first engagement in which he participated was that at Stone River, where he was wounded by a minie ball. He then went to a house on the battlefield, and soon afterward the building was surrounded by Wheeler's cavalry and he was taken prisoner. He was removed to Libby prison, where he was confined for one week and then taken to City Point, where his exchange was effected after one month's imprisonment, and whence he proceeded to the parole camp at Annapolis. Finally he was sent to Camp Chase, in Ohio's capital city, where he was granted a furlough. He remained at his home until the expiration of his furlough and then, having been exchanged, rejoined his regiment near Murfreesboro after an absence of five months. There- after he participated in the engagements at Liberty Gap, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and still later was in pursuit of Longstreet. At the expiration of its term of enlistment his regiment veteranized and Mr. Trumbo was then assigned to the Sixty-eighth Indiana Infantry, with which he served two months and then rejoined his old regiment. He then took part in the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Pickett's Mills, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree creek, and finally succumbed to a sunstroke just previous to the Jonesboro campaign and was sent to the hospital at Vining Station and thence to Nashville, being detailed for hospital service and so continued till discharged, in June, 1865. After thus rendering the valiant service of a true son of the republic Mr. Trumbo returned to his home, and after his marriage, in 1867, he located on a, part of the old homestead and there engaged in farming, continuing successfully in this line until 1899, when he retired from active labor and took up his residence in his present attractive home, in the village of Amsden. He still owns his fine farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres, on which he has made the best of improvements and which is one of the model places of this section of the state.
In his political proclivities Mr. Trumbo is a stalwart Republican, and when but twenty-one years of age he was called upon to serve in a
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local official capacity, and for many years, at intervals, was incumbent of various offices, having been trustee of his township and having served eight years as township clerk and six years as assessor. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally is identified with Norris Post, No. 27, G. A. R., at Fostoria. He was vice-president of the Farmers' Mutual Relief Association of Seneca County for a period of four years and has been a member of its directorate for the past eighteen years.
On the 12th of May, 1867, Mr. Trumbo was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Nederhouser, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob Nederhouser, and of this union three children have been born, namely: Clara, the wife of Elmer Harrison, of Jackson town- ship; and Milan and Irvin, who are engaged in farming in the same township, the latter operating the homestead.
MORE FLACK.
To the early settlement of Seneca county, Ohio, the old Keystone state made many contributions, and thus was gained at the start a most desirable class of citizens,-sturdy, energetic, progressive and of inflex- ible integrity. One of the early pioneer families of the county has a representative in the subject of this review, who has inherited the sterling traits which have made the name an honored one in the annals of this section of the state. He is one of the progressive and prosperous farm- ers of the county, holds the respect of all who know him and is well entitled to representation in this work.
Mr. Flack was born on the old homestead farm where he now resides, in Liberty township, the date of his nativity being May 26, 1859. He was one of the sixteen children of Louis S. and Margaret A. (Null) Flack, and is one of the nine who still survive, the others being Joseph, Warren, Byron, Ada, John, Henry, Alice and Jane. Louis S. Flack, father of our subject, was likewise born in Liberty township, being the
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son of John L. Flack, who emigrated to this county from Pennsylvania in an early day, becoming one of the pioneer settlers in the forest wilds which then designated this section of the state, and he lived and died on this same farm. Here Louis S. was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm, and here his marriage was solemnized. Finally he purchased the interests of the other heirs to the homestead, in Liberty township, where he thus passed the remainder of his life, being success- fully engaged in general farming and owning about five hundred and forty acres at the time of his death, which ocurred in August, 1866, at which time he was forty-nine years of age. He was an ardent Democrat in his political proclivities, was influential in public affairs of a local nature and on many occasions acted as delegate to county and state con- ventions of his party. His widow subsequently became the wife of John Crawford, and she died on the homestead in 1896, at the age of seventy-two years, no children having been born of the second marriage.
More Flack, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the old homestead which has been in the possession of the family for so many years, and his educational training was secured in the public schools. Upon attaining his legal majority he engaged in agricult- ural pursuits on the old farm, and thereafter rented the same until 1897, when he purchased the interests of the other heirs and now continues in the successful conducting of diversified farming, keeping everything about the place in first-class order and bringing to bear every agency which will add to the facility of the farm work and insure the highest possible measure of success in return for the labor expended. The typical American term of "hustler" may well be applied to him, and the same expresses much that could not otherwise be indicated save by extended circumlocution. In political matters Mr. Flack gives his allegi- ance to the Democratic party, and while he keeps well informed in regard to the issues of the hour, and also shows a lively interest in all that touches the progress and material prosperity of the community, he has never been an aspirant for public office. Mr. Flack still clings to the independent state of "single blessedness," his home being presided over by a housekeeper.
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JOSEPH SENDELBACH.
History generally treats of those who have attained eminence in politics or statecraft, in military circles and to some extent in the field of letters and art, but has little to do with those toilers upon whom the real prosperity and progress of the nations depend. It is left to specific biography to perpetuate the record of those law-abiding citizens who, in the midst of the active affairs of this work-a-day world, stand forth in integrity of purpose, loyalty to friends and native land, and in that enter- prise and industry which make for the well-being of their respective com- munities. To this class belongs Mr. Sendelbach, who is of stanch old German lineage and who is one of the progressive and successful farm- ers and stock-growers of Liberty township, Seneca county, where he has passed his entire life and where he has gained prosperity through his own well directed effort, the while commanding the unequivocal esteem of the community in which his life history is familiar.
Mr. Sendelbach was born on the farm where he now resides on the Ist of April, 1846, being the only child of Joseph and Anna Mary Sendelbach: His father was born in Germany, where he was reared and where his first marriage was solemnized. He finally emigrated from his native land to America, settling in Seneca county, Ohio, in the pio- neer days, and here securing the tract of wild land which constitutes the present home of his son, the subject of this review. He became the owner of two hundred acres of land, which he largely reclaimed, and here he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1864. After the death of his first wife, who bore him one son and three daughters, he married Ama Mary, the mother of our subject, who was the only child of the second union. The devoted mother died in 1881. having been a zealous member of St. Andrew's Catholic church, as was also her husband. In this faith their son was reared, and he and his family are communicants of the church, holding membership in the parish of St. Andrew's, in Liberty, of which Mr. Sendelbach has served as trustee.
Mr. Sendelbach was eighteen years of age at the time of his father's
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death, and thereupon he assumed charge of the old homestead, of which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres about five years later, while subsequently he acquired title to the remaining forty acres. Here he has passed his entire life, devoting his attention to diversified farming and to the raising of high-grade stock, while he has brought to bear such discrimination and energy that his efforts have been attended by a high degree of success. He has made fine improvements of a permanent nature, including a commodious, modern residence, of attractive archi- tectural design, which he erected in 1896, while the other farm buildings are indicatory of the progressiveness which has conserved our subject's prosperity. His educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools in the vicinity of his home, and he is honored as one of Seneca county's sterling sons and able business men. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and while he takes a proper interest in all that concerns the well-being of the community he has never sought official preferment.
Mr. Sendelbach was united in marriage to Miss Louise Long, who entered into eternal rest in 1876, leaving four children, namely: Mary, the wife of Nicholas Altwies; Catherine, the wife of Charles Walter; Teresa, the wife of Nicholas Blazer; and Henry W. On the Ioth of January, 1877, Mr. Sendelbach married Miss Margaret Brickner, who was born on the adjoining farm, the daughter of George Adam and Eve (Smith) Brickner, and of the ten children of this union Joseph and John are deceased, the survivors, all of whom remain at the parental home, being as follows: Laura, Michael, Frank, Sebastian, Leona, Lena, Josephine and Louis.
HENRY G. FALTER.
If one is to sojourn for any length of time in that naturally favored section of Seneca county designated as Venice township he is sure to note with appreciation the changes wrought by the hand of man to the end of securing the great fields of waving grain, the undulating meadows,
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with their herds and flocks, the substantial improvements and various. other conditions indicatory of a prosperous agricultural community. He is almost sure also to forthwith hear specific mention made of one of the model framsteads of the township, that being the domain of the subject of this sketch, who is a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, where he has passed his entire life, and who has by his course given added honor to a name which has been honored in this locality from the early days when was inaugurated the work of reclaim- ing the forest wilds. Abiding here in peace, contentment and plenty, esteemed by those among whom his life has been passed, conspicuous in all that tends to the conservation of the best interests of the community, known as one of its most progressive and able farmers,-what more consonant than that the life of such a man be taken under consideration in this connection?
Mr. Falter was born in Venice township, this county, on the 30th of October, 1852, being a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Houk) Falter, of whose eight children five survive, namely: Henry G., the subject of this sketch; Christina, the wife of Lewis Phillips, of Bloom town- ship; Joseph, a resident of Huron county; Anna, the wife of Joseph Thoma, of Saginaw county, Michigan; and John, a resident of the city of Cleveland. Philip Falter was born in Germany in 1826, and when a boy of ten years he came with his parents to America and the family settled in the heavily timbered section of this county known as Venice township. On the spot where our subject was born many years later the grandfather erected his primitive log cabin, and then essayed the herculean task of hewing out a farm in the forest. The farm upon which he thus located is that now owned by John Worm. There the father of our subject was reared to years of maturity and after his mar- riage acquired the old homestead, to whose cultivation and improvement he continued to devote his attention until 1863, when he disposed of the property and purchased the farm now owned by our subject. Here he continued to reside until his death, in April, 1873, his devoted wife hav- ing passed away in the preceding month, while the death of their eldest daughter occurred in the July following. Philip Falter was a Democrat
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in politics, was a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife, and was one of the representative and highly esteemed citizens of the county.
Henry G. Falter was but twenty year's of age at the time of his parents' death, and as he was the eldest of the family the management of the farm and the care of the family devolved upon him, though he was scarcely more than a boy. He bravely assumed the responsibility, his father's will providing that he should have the use of the farm for a period of four years, and at the expiration of this period the stipula- tion was that he should receive eighty acres of the homestead and his brother Frank forty acres, while they were to pay the other heirs for their interests. Our subject at this time assumed an indebtedness of four thousand dollars, having nothing save the farm of eighty acres and a yearling colt, which subsequently died. The crops of the first year were almost a total failure, and the same discouraging condition was in evidence the second year, the outlook being so unpropitious that Mr. Falter nearly decided to give up the farm. The third season, however, excellent crops were garnered, good prices for produce prevailed and an cra of prosperity for him was finally ushered in. He has had, as a matter of course, certain reverses since that time, but his discrimination and good management have enabled him to make a steady progress and to attain a high degree of success. He takes special pride in maintain- ing good fences, keeping his buildings in the best of repair and so enrich- ing his land as to keep its productiveness at the maximum point, not permitting it to retrograde, as have many farmers in the older-settled sections of Ohio and other states of the middle west. As the result of his ability and well directed efforts Mr. Falter is to-day known as one of the best and most substantial farmers in this section, now having one hundred and forty-nine acres in his home farm, while for the past six years he has also rented and operated an adjoining farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, and has so added to its value and fertility that the owner who had placed it on the market recently refused to sell the prop- erty, after having investigated as to its condition and intrinsic worth.
In politics Mr. Falter gives a stalwart allegiance to the Democratic
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party, and he served as township trustee for six years and for a long term of years he has been a member of the school board. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, and he is one of its most influential and devoted members in this section, being a member of the board of trustees of St. Stephen's church, at St. Stephen, and a member of the building committee, under whose direction a new rectory is being con- structed.
In the year 1875 Mr. Falter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Worm, who was born in this township, of which her father, the late . Christian Worm, was an early settler, having emigrated hither from Germany. Of the eight children born to our subject and his estimable wife all except one are living and all these remain at the parental home, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Philomena, Philip, Lawrence, Edward, Anthony, Clement and Theresa. Oliver died at the age of six years. The family occupy a position of prominence in the social life of the community, and the attractive home is a center of cordial hospitality.
JOHN C. STEINMETZ.
In the beautiful and industrially prolific county of Seneca, Ohio, there is a fine farmstead which has been owned by representatives of the Steinmetz family from the early epoch, when the sturdy pioneers came hither and set to themselves the task of reclaiming and making productive the forest primeval, where so long had the red man, in his motley garb, disputed dominion with the beasts of the field. The farm of which we speak is that owned by the gentleman whose name intro- duces this paragraph and who is known as one of the most successful and influential agriculturists of this favored section, while his is the distinction to be of the third generation of the family to be identified with the history of Seneca county. Here in the early days came Martin Steinmetz, the grandfather of our subject and of stanch old German lineage, having been born in the province of Alsace, which Germany suc-
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ceeded in wresting from France and annexing to its own great empire. He emigrated thence to America with his family, and they forthwith made their way through to Ohio, which was then held to be on the very frontier of civilization, and from Canton they came through to Seneca county, being compelled to cut their way through the dense forest. The grandfather secured a tract of entirely wild and heavily timbered land in Venice township, purchasing one hundred acres which had shortly before been secured by government entry, and here he built his modest log cabin beneath the grateful umbrageous canopy of the Ohio forests. This noble pioneer, a man of the stanchest integrity, found. as his portion a full quota of the vicissitudes which were the inevitable concomitants of pioneer life,-perils that shadowed the day and the night, hardships and privations, all demanding fortitude, faith and indomitable perseverance in working toward desired ends. It is gratify- ing to note that the patriarchal homestead has remained in the posses- sion of the family, for such tenure is too slightly typical of our restless, ambitious American life.
Jolin C. Steinmetz was born on the farm where he now resides, in Venice township, the date of his nativity having been December 29, 1852. He is a son of Michael and Mary (Falter) Steinmetz, who became the parents of eleven children, of whom nine survive, namely : John C., the subject of this sketch; Philip, a resident of Toledo, Ohio; Clement, of Tiffin; Anthony, of Dunnington, Indiana; Mary Angeline, wife of Joseph Phillips, of Venice township; Christina, wife of Stephen Worm, of Paulding county; Cecelia, wife of Isadore Worm, of St. Stephen, Seneca county ; Louisa, wife of John Ewald, of Dunnington, Indiana; and Mary, wife of Frank Freeland, of Dunnington. The father of our subject was born in Alsace, Germany, and was about eighteen months old at the time when the family emigrated to America. He was reared on the pioneer farm in this township, having very limited educational advantages, and here his marriage was solemnized, some years after which he purchased the farm now owned by our subject. He had learned the trade of carpenter and built for himself a residence. on his farm, where he continued to make his home and to work at his;
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trade, also developing and improving the farm. His wife died in the year 1881, and he later was united in marriage to Miss Lena Watts, of Tiffin, to which city he soon afterward removed and has there main- tained his home ever since. At the time of his removal he owned one hundred and thirty-six acres in the home farm and eighty acres located three miles northwest of the same, all of which he has now sold, having made desirable investments in Tiffin property. Of his second marriage one child was born, but is now deceased. Mr. Steinmetz has been one of the prominent and honored men of the county, is a Democrat in his political proclivities, and for several years he was incumbent of office, having served both as assessor and trustee of Venice township. He is a devoted member of St. Joseph's Catholic church.
John C. Steinmetz was reared on his present homestead and secured his educational discipline in the public schools of the locality. On the 16th of November, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Ball, who was born in this township, the daughter of Joseph Ball, who was born in Germany and who was a pioneer of Seneca county, being now deceased. After his marriage our subject located on his father's eighty-acre farm, to which reference has been made, and there he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1886, when he returned to the homestead farm, which he rented from his father until 1891, when he purchased the property, which he has greatly improved, making it one of the most attractive and valuable rural estates in this section. He has remodeled and enlarged the buildings on the place and his home is one which gives an unmistakable evidence of the energy and discrimina- tion which have been brought to bear by the progressive owner. He is public-spirited in his attitude and gives his support to all legitimate meas- ures and undertakings for the general good, his political allegiance being accorded to the Democratic party, while his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, under whose beneficent discipline he was reared. Cath- erine (Ball) Steinmetz was summoned into eternal rest on the 19th oi February, 1896, and is survived by four of her five children, namely : Edward, Earl, Lawrence and Clement,-all of whom remain at the pater- nal home. On the IIth of October, 1899, Mr. Steinmetz was married a
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second time, Miss Anna Zirger becoming his wife. She was born in Tiffin, and is the daughter of Marcus Zirger, of whom special mention is found on another page. The family are prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest regard by all who know them.
BENJAMIN F. KNEPPER.
Back to the old Keystone state of the Union must we turn in tracing the genealogy of Mr. Knepper, since records extant indicate that his paternal ancestors located in Pennsylvania in the colonial epoch, having come thither from the German fatherland, as did also the maternal pro- genitors. Our subject is now one of the honored and prosperous farm- ers of Seneca county, and from his study ancestors he has inherited those sterling traits of character which have enabled him to work out his own salvation and to gain and retain the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He has been dependent upon his own resources from his boyhood, and through his indefatigable industry and determination has advanced step by step to the goal of independence and prosperity, richly meriting this reward of his ceaseless toil and endeavor.
Benjamin Franklin Knepper was born in Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, on the 4th of December, 1838, and he and his sister Amanda, the wife of John Boner, of that county, are the two surviving children of Peter and Eliza (Wagemon) Knepper, the former of whom was born in the same county in 1793, being the son of Abraham Knepper, likewise a native of Franklin county and the son of Abraham, Sr., who came from Germany and established his home in Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject passed his entire life in his native county, where he lived to the patriarchal age of ninety-five years. There Peter Knepper was reared to the discipline of the farm, and after his mar- riage he purchased one hundred and thirty acres adjoining the old homestead, and there remained until his death, in 1847. at the age of fifty-four years. He was a Democrat in politics and his religious faith
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was that of the Seventh Day Adventists. He was twice married, his first wife having been a Miss Geeseman, and of their union three chil- dren were born, only one of whom survives,-Sarah, the widow of Daniel Bricker, of North Baltimore, Ohio. His second wife, the mother of our subject, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in ' 1820, being the daughter of Jacob Wagemon, likewise a native of that county and of German lineage. Mrs. Knepper survived her husband many years, passing away in 1892, at the age of seventy-two.
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