USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 27
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R. ADAM NELSON KROUT, de- ceased, was born in Baltimore county, Md., December 30, 1836, a son of John and Nancy (Bond) Krout. John Krout, the father, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, was a farmer, and came to Ohio about 1856, locating in Hancock county. His wife, Nancy, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and both she and her husband ended their years on earth on the Ohio farm mentioned above. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom four still survive.
Dr. A. N. Krout was a mere child when taken from Maryland to York county, Pa., by his parents, with whom he there resided until about twenty years of age, when, with them, he came to Hancock county, Ohio. There he
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
began the study of medicine under Dr. McDon- ald, of Mount Blanchard, read under him until 1862, and then entered the Starling Medical college at Columbus, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1866. He at once located in Van Wert, where his abilities were quickly recognized, and he soon secured a lucrative practice, which he followed until his death, which occurred January 22, 1891.
Dr. A. N. Krout was married in Hancock county, Ohio, August 18, 1858, to Miss Ra- chael A. Orwick, a native of the county, born January 18, 1842, and a daughter of Henry and Hannah (Taylor) Orwick, both natives of York, Pa., who early in life came to Ohio, and here died in 1870 and 1856 respectively. By the union of the doctor and his wife were born five children, viz: an infant, deceased; Ger- trude, Milton and Emma V., all three also de- ceased; and William C., at home. The father of this family was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a trustee, and in politics was a republican until 1888, when he became a prohibitionist. He was also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and socially stood very high. He accumulated con- siderable property in his life-time, owning, at the time of his death, a fine farm of 225 acres in Pleasant township, three valuable residence lots in Van Wert, and his private residence on South Washington street; beside this property, he held a life insurance policy for a consider- able amount. Mrs. Krout is also a prominent and devout member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and is highly respected by her friends and neighbors.
J OHN LUERSMANN, one of the well- known farmers of Washington town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born on the farm where he now lives on May 8, 1852, and is the son of Casper
Luersmann, one of the pioneers of the town- ship. The father was a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was reared, and where he was married to Anna Elizabeth Raude. In 1844 they came to the United States, landing in New York, and coming direct to Fort Jen- nings, Putnam county, Ohio. They rented land on the Auglaize river and farmed there until 1847, and then came to Van Wert county, they having entered forty acres from the government, located in section No. 35. This was then all woods and full of wild ani- mals and wild game. But they began to clear off the timber and by dint of hard work were soon able to put in a crop. The father died in 1886, in his seventy-seventh year; the mother died in 1891, aged eighty-two years and three months. Both parents were mem- bers of Saint John's Roman Catholic church. To the parents three children were born, as follows: Clara, born in the old country, was married to Harman Trentmann, of Marion township, Allen connty, and died in February, 1884, leaving her husband and five sons and three daughters; Dina was born in Putnam county, in 1846; and our subject.
John Luersmann was brought up on the home farm in Washington township, and at- tended the district schools, learning both Ger- nian and English. He has always lived on the home farm, remaining with his parents all their lives. Two years before his father died he deeded the farm to his son, and the latter now owns it entirely. There are eighty acres in the place, and in 1890 our subject purchased forty acres more, which does not join on but is close, all in section No. 36. The residence, however, is in section No. 35, two miles south -. west from Delphos. In 1893 he also pur- chased a farin of sixty-five acres near Landeck, for which he paid $4,000.
Mr. Luersmann was married, in 1876, to Annie Maesker, who was born in Marion town -.
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ship, Allen county, in 1856, and is the daugh- ter of Casper Maesker. To Mr. and Mrs. Luersmann nine children have been born, as follows: Rosa, John H., Frank, Mary, Regina, Joseph ( deceased ), Alice, (deceased ) Leo (deceased ) and Bertha. All the family are members of the Saint John's Roman Cath- olic church. Mr. Luersmann is a member of the Saint Joseph's society and his wife is a mem- ber of Saint Mary's Altar society.
ILLIAM W. LUDWIG, one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of Hoaglin township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Balti- more county, Md., July 8, 1838, and is of sturdy German descent, his great-grandfather, John Ludwig, having brought his family from Germany prior to the American Revolution, and having settled in York county, Pa., but dying in Van Wert county, Ohio. John Lud- wig, second son of the John named above, and the grandfather of William W., our subject, was also born in Germany, and was a young man when he came with his father to America and settled in York county, Pa. where he be- came a prosperous farmer, a prominent citi- zen, and quite wealthy for his day, and where he married, and died, a member of the Lu- theran church. John Ludwig the third, father of our subject, was born in York county, Pa., March 11, 1806, and died in Hancock county, Ohio, February 17, 1872. He had received a sound, common-school education in his native county, was there married to Miss Eve Hilder- brand, daughter of Philip and Katie (Inetine) Hilderbrand, pioneers and wealthy farm people of York county, and to this marriage of John and Eve Ludwig were born the following chil- dren: Isabella, Ellen B., Rebecca (deceased), William W. (our subject), Henry H. (who died at Arcadia, Ohio), Sarah J. (deceased), and
John W. (died at Chattanooga, during the late war). The parents of this family, after their marriage, continued to live in York county, Pa., for sixteen or eighteen years on a farin, and then moved to Crawford county, Ohio, whence they removed to Seneca county three years later, and finally, five years later, settled in Washington township, Hancock county, where they first bought a farm of 120 acres, but afterwards increased it to 160 acres, and there died members of the United Brethren church.
William W. Ludwig, the subject proper of this biographical notice, received in his youth- ful days a good, solid common-school educa- tion, and was reared on the home farm in York county, Pa., where he married. April 20, 1862, Mrs. Caroline Smith, daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Strayer) Stiles, and widow of Charles Smith, who died January 17, 1856, and to whom she was the mother of three children --- Ellen (deceased), Sophia and Frank C. Mr. Smith was a farmer and shoemaker of York county, Pa., was a democrat in politics, and in religion a Lutheran. The children born to Mr. Ludwig by his marriage to Mrs. Smith are Henry H., Lydia A., Amelia, John W., and Della. One year after his marriage Mr. Lud- wig left his home in Pennsylvania and located in Washington township, Hancock county. Ohio, where he resided a year, then moved to Hardin county, where he lived two and a half years, then moved back to Hancock county. purchased a farm near Vanlue and lived there five years, then bought his father's old farm in Washington township. Hancock county, Ohio, where he lived for eighteen months: then emi- grated to Holt county, Mo., where he bought 180 acres, on which he lived two years; then traded for a farm in Richland county, Ohio, on which he made a home nine years, and then traded for his home of eighty acres in Hoaglin township, Van Wert county, Ohio, on which
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he has since resided and to which he has added seventeen acres, having now as fine and as well improved a farm of its size as there is in the county-all of which has been earned by his own industry, aided by that of his family. Mr. Ludwig is a stanchi democrat and has served two terins as township trustee; he is also a justice of the peace. He is liberal in his con- tributions to church purposes and is equally liberal in his aid to school enterprises. He is a member of lodge No. 791, I. O. O. F., at Scott, and is a well known and highly respected citizen. Mrs. Ludwig is a consistent member of the Evangelical church. Her brothers and sisters were named, in the order of birth: Leah (deceased), Maria, Sarah (deceased), Katie, Lydia, Mary, Eliza, Henrietta, Chris- tian J. and William-her own birth occurred April 5, 1831.
LEXANDER LEWIS, one of the wealthy land owners of Tully town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in New Jersey and comes from an old colonial family, of English descent. John Lewis, his father, also a native of New Jersey, married Mrs. Euphemia Earl, whose maiden name was also Lewis, but no relation- ship existed between them. The only issue of this marriage was Alexander, our subject, who was born March 4, 1834. John Lewis, the father, died in 1837, and in 1838 the sub- ject was brought to Ohio by his mother and maternal grandfather, James Lewis, who set- tled in Belmont county. Here the lad, Alex- ander, began work, at a tender age in the coal mines, and at the age of sixteen began to learn the trade of stone-mason, at which he later worked twenty-seven years, part of the time in company with John Whitcraft, a brother-in- law. While yet a boy he went to Tuscarawas county, and when a young man went to Mus- 1
kingum county, where he married, September 2, 1856, to Elizabeth Whitcraft, who was born October 9, 1832, a daughter of George and Eliza (Hannel) Whitcraft. George Whit- craft was a farmer and an old settler of Mus- kingum county, and he and his wife were par- ents of twelve children, viz: Thomas, Isaac, Elizabeth, John, Sarah J., Harrison, Nicholas, Nancy J., Mary, Lewis F., Ann and Sarah. In politics the father of this family was a re- publican and had four sons in the Civil war --- Thomas, Isaac, John and Harrison. George Whitcraft, in course of time removed from Muskingum to Hocking county, bought a farm IIO acres, and there resided until his death at the age of seventy-two years, a member of the United Brethren church, although in earlier life he had been a Methodist, and all his life a worthy upright gentleman.
Alexander Lewis, after his marriage, also settled in Hocking county, Ohio, where he was engaged for twenty years in the stone- mason business, as alluded to above. He be- gan with no capital, and for fifteen years carried his tools from place to place, working on bridges and doing a vast amount of work as journeyman, as well as contractor for work on stores and other buildings. In 1875 he came to Van Wert county, and, in company with John Whitcraft, bought 400 acres of prairie land, his own share being 240 acres. By thrift, good management, and industry, he increased this property to 320 acres, including his farming land, all of which he has deeded to his children, with the exception of 120 acres, which he reserves for his own use. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born four children, viz: Albert M., George 1., John and Lucy J., all natives of Hocking county. Of these, Albert married Elizabeth Downing, and is the father of seven children; George I. is the husband of Jennie Downing. sister of Albert's wife, and has five children:
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
John is married to Julia Sponseller, and is the father of four children; Lucy, now deceased, married John Sponseller, and had one child. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis affiliate with the Methodists in their religious belief, and while in Hocking county Mr. Lewis was a member 'of the Masonic fraternity in good standing, being a regular attendant of his lodge. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Lewis is en- tirely self made, having begun life as a poor boy, and the first $20 he earned as a coal- miner has been placed in his present farm. He has reared a respected family of children, and he himself stands high as a citizen 'and as a man of sterling worth and integrity of charac- ter. His farm is one of the best in Tully township, and now comprises 334 acres, in- cluding the 120 acres reserved from his earlier possessions.
R. LEONARD E. LADD, a leading physician of Van Wert county, Ohio, descends from sterling Puritan stock of English origin. A remote ances- tor, Capt. Ladd, was a paymaster in the En- glish navy and came to America in 1660, land- ing in Massachusetts bay. The family took an active part in the early Indian wars and their descendants were still later active in the Rev- olutionary war, and have been in all the wars since. The great-great-grandfather of Dr. Ladd was with Col. Pepperell of Maine, during the second French war, when that officer cap- tured from the French the fort at Louisburg, on Cape Breton island, June 17, 1745, for which feat the American commander was knighted by George II, of England-being the first native of New England to be so honored. The Ladd ancestor here alluded to was the first of the family to settle in Maine and as- sisted to build the first block house at Saco, as a defense against the Indians, in the trouble
with whom the Ladd family took an active part. When Dr. Ladd, our subject, first be- gan the practice of medicine, about ISSI, his office was on the site of this identical block house in Saco.
Thomas Ladd, grandfather of our subject, was born at Saco, Me., about 1761, was a farmer, and was first married to Sarah Phil- lips, in 1783, who bore ten children. Of these, Thomas, a United States land surveyor, was killed by the Indians in the west at an early day; the other sons were named William, An- drew, Edmund and Rufus. The daughters were Mary, Icy, Unice, Lucinda and Sarah. The second marriage of Mr. Ladd was with Hannah Jose, in 1813, also of Puritan stock. and whose ancestors were warriors of the early French Indian wars. The French and Indians several times swept over Maine, and, on two different occasions, Saco was captured. Oni one of these occasions a member of the Ladd family was digging a well, and his wife was at- tending the windlass, when an attack from the Indians was so sudden that Mr. Ladd was un- noticed, while his wife was borne off a pris- oner to Canada and detained for some years.
To the second marriage of Thomas Ladd were born six children, viz: Samuel E., Silas. John, James, Dorcas and Sarah. Of Thomas Ladd's children several sons were in the war of 1812, one of whom, Thomas, Jr., was dis- charged at Quebec and walked the entire distance home, carrying his old flint-lock musket, which is still in the possession of the family. The father was a well-known citizen. and his farm, which he cleared up six miles from Saco, and on which he died at the age of seventy-two years, has never been alienated from the family.
Samuel Ladd, the second son of the above. and father of subject, was born on his father's farm near Saco, Me., April 24, 1818, was reared on the farm, and also became a ship-
LEONARD E. LADD, M. D.
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joiner or finisher. He married Jane C. Peter- son, born July 7, 1837, daughter of Nicholas and Alice Peterson. The father, Nicholas Peterson, was born in Sweden, July 5, 1795, of a noble family, but at the age of fourteen years ran away to sea, which he followed thirty years, for some unknown reason never returning home. He eventually settled in Maine, where he married Alice Brown in June, 1822. To them were born eleven children, as follows: Joseph, Nicholas, Jacob, Andrew, Jackson, Calvin, Alice, Ann, Catherine, Eliza- beth and Jane Clemens. Alice Brown was born in Maine, October 5, 1792, and died in Waltham, Mass., August 26, 1885. Nicholas Peterson died at the age of sixty-three years. To Samuel Ladd and wife were born seven children, of whom three died in infancy; the four attaining mature age were named Dr. Frank B., Dr. Leonard E., Alice and Addie. Mr. Ladd, as were his forefathers for genera- tions, was a member of the Congregational church, and his politics was democratic. He was a man of exemplary character, was a highly respected citizen, and died at Saco January 1, 1889, seventy years of age.
Dr. Leonard E. Ladd was born at Saco, Me., October 30, 1857, and received the usual academical education of the better class of New England lads; he then began the study of medicine under Dr. J. A. Berry, of Saco, and next attended the college of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md., from 1879 to IS81, when he graduated. He practiced the first six months at Saco, laying the foundation for a future reputation; in December, 1881, he came to Ohio, and stopped in Hancock county until the spring of 1882, when he caine to Van Wert county and made his permanent headquarters at Middlepoint, building up rapidly a lucrative practice and a deservedly high reputation,
The marriage of Dr. Ladd took place Sep- 20
tember 7, 1883. to Miss Laura B. Morris, who was born at Elida, Ohio, November 10, 1862, a daughter of James and Margaret (Hilliard) Morris. James Morris was of an old Virginia family, and came to Ohio in 1844; he first located in Fairfield county, and in 1848 or 1850 settled in Allentown, Allen county. He and his wife were the parents of fourteen chil- dren; he was a soldier of the Mexican war, and was also a soldier for three years, in an Ohio regiment, in the late Civil war; he lived to be sixty years of age and died a member of the Christian church. To Dr. and Mrs. Ladd have been born five sons-Roscoe. Vaughn, Cloyd, Wilmer and Paul, and the family affili- ate with the Lutheran church. In politics the doctor is a republican, has served as mayor of Middlepoint four years, and is very popular with his party and the citizens generally. He has been physician in charge of the Van Wert county infirmary for the last nine years, where he has had a large clinical experience. His large practice extends throughout the surround- ing country, and his fame as a physician is not limited to his local surroundings. He is a deep student and an unremitting reader of everything pertaining to pathology and hygiene. and his keen habits of observation, yet genial and kindly deportment, make him invaluable accessories in his clinical practice.
UPHEMIA LEWIS, widow of John W. Lewis, late of Pleasant township. Van Wert county, and a daughter of James and Susannah Ellis, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1843. Her father was born in Frederick county, W. Va., in 1804. and was the son of Christopher Ellis, who came from Germany in an early day and set- tled in one of the eastern states, therice, later. moved to Clinton county, Ohio. james Ellis, when quite young, accompanied his parents to
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the county of Clinton and there grew to man- hood on his father's farm, and about 1829 was united in marriage to Susannah Woolman, daughter of John and Mary (Burden) Wool- man. To this marriage nine children were born: Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Starbuck; Mary J., wife of William Reed; Eliza, de- ceased; Martha, deceased; Jacob, deceased: Granville; John W., deceased; Euphemia and James V. The mother of these children was born in Clinton county in 1809, her parents, both natives of New Jersey, having been among the first settlers of the Buckeye state. She died January 23, 1882. James Ellis was a suc- cessful farmer, secured for himself a comfort- able competence, was a highly respected citi- zen and departed this life in 1870.
Mrs. Euphemia Lewis, the subject of this sketch, was reared in the country home of her parents and received her educational training in the country schools of Clinton county, and on the 17th day of October, 1867, became the wife of John W. Lewis: five children were born to this marriage: Eugene E., who resides on the home farm; Jennie M., wife of Nico- demus Tindall; Earnest R .: Emma L. and Harry W.
John W. Lewis, the husband and father, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in the year of 1844, the son of James and Nancy (Bone) Lewis. In his youth he moved with his par- ents to Clinton county, where he engaged in farming and where he resided until 1870, in December of which year he became a resident of the county of Van Wert, purchasing a farin in Pleasant township, where the family now resides. He was a man of industry, as is at- tested by the fact that his land, at the time of his taking possession, was in a wild state, but he soon succeeded in developing it and estab- Fishing a comfortable home. He brought his farm to an excellent state of cultivation, was progressive in his ideas relative to agriculture,
and did much in a quiet way to enhance the industrial interests of his community. His death occurred in October, 1882. Mrs. Lewis is possessed of excellent judgment, has given personal attention to the management of the farm, and is a lady honored and respected in her neighborhood. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also belongs to Pleasant grange, with which organization her husband was also identified.
AMUEL W. LONG, the senior part- ner in the real estate and insurance firm of Long & Wappner, of Van Wert, Ohio, was born March 27. 1850, in Ashland county, this state, a son of Peter and Margaret (Barnhart) Long. The father, Peter Long, was a native of Strasburg, Germany, was born October 4, 1807, but at an early age was left an orphan and was bound out, until eighteen years old, to learn tailoring. His time having expired, and in order to avoid military service, he came to America, the trip requiring forty-one days, and landed in New York city. In 1827 he came to Ohio and re- sided in Canton, Stark county, one year: there married and engaged in farming until 1835. when he moved to Ashland county, where he continued to farm until 1878, when he retired to Loudonville, that county, and passed the remainder of his days in comfort, dying Janu- ary 12, 1893. His wife, Margaret Barnhart, was born also in Strasburg, January 6. 1805. and was married in Canton, Ohio, June ES. 1828. She had been acquainted with Mi. Long in Germany, and had there became his betrothed. To this union of Mr. and Mrs. Long were born ten children, viz: George W .. Peter, John M., Anna, Adam, Mary, Cather- ine, Daniel, William and Samuel W. Mrs. Margaret Long passed away December 12. 1874, a devout member of the Lutheran
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
church; her husband was also an adherent of this religious denomination, in politics was a democrat, and at his death was the owner of 240 acres of farm land and other valuable real estate, almost entirely earned through his own industry and that of his faithful helpmate.
Samuel W. Long, our subject, was reared to seventeen years of age in his native county, on his father's farm, and then went to the town of Ashland to learn the baker and con- fectioner's trade, at which he there worked for two years-then went to Pittsburg. Pa., where ·he sojourned one year: in 1870 he returned to Ohio, and until 1880 made his home in Na- poleon, Henry county. In the latter year he came to Van Wert and engaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he con- ducted on his sole account until IS88, when he was joined in the business by George Henry Wappner, of whom mention is made on another page, and with the exception of one year, the firm name has ever since been that of Long & Wappner, it being one of the strongest and most popular in its line of business in the city . of Van Wert.
The marriage of Mr. Long took place in Henry county, Ohio, in 1872, to Miss Clara E. Reiter, a native of that county, and to this union were born two children -- Idella May (de- ceased) and Clara E. Mr. Long had the mis- fortune to lose his wife May 5, 1878, and his second marriage took place in Van Wert, July 20, 1882, to Maggie E. Hattery, who was born in this county September 16, 1853, a daughter of Nathaniel Hattery, whose biography is pub- lished elsewhere in this work. This happy union has been blessed by the birth of one child-Peter Earl. Mr. Long is an elder and also treasurer in the Lutheran church, of which his wife is also a devout member; he is secretary of the Ohio National Building & Loan association, and fraternally is a member of the National Union; in politics he is a demo- I
crat. He is also a notary public, and the firm are agents for some of the most substantial fire, life and accident insurance companies in the United States and elsewhere.
ICHAEL LONG, an old settler of Washington township. Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Ger- many, May 25, 1827, and came to America with his parents in IS37. He is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Keil) Long, who were the parents of eight children, named Annie, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Michael, Henry, Daniel and John, all born in Germany. Daniel Long, the father, was a potter by trade, and sailed from Bremen in the ship Marcus, landing, after a passage of fifty-six days, in the port of New York. The father at once brought his family to Ohio and built a pottery in Seneca county, and there passed the re- mainder of his days, dying at the age of sixty- eight years, in the faith of the Catholic church.
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