USA > Ohio > Erie County > A standard history of Erie County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic, and social development. A chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs > Part 91
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CAPT. CHARLES WEITZMAN. From an early period in its history Erie County, by very virtue of its situation, has contributed a generous quota of strong, vital and sterling citizens to "go down to the sea in ships" and to become influential factors in connection with navigation interests and service on the Great Lakes, the most wonderful of inland seas. As sailor and master of vessels Captain Weitzman has long held high prestige and by reason of his worthy service in connection with commerce and traffie on the lakes as well as in recognition of his status as one of the liberal, loyal and honored citizens of Erie County is he entitled to definite representation in this publication.
A seion of an ancient and sterling family of the Kingdom of Wur- temberg, Germany, where one generation after another of the line was to be found established in the picturesque Rhine district, near Oberheim and Nussheim, and where the family long stood exponent of the great and fundamental industry of agriculture, were born the paternal grand- parents of Captain Weitzman, and there they passed their entire lives, the grandfather having been a substantial farmer and the family faith having been for many generations that of the Catholic Church in the German Fatherland. Carl Weitzman, father of him whose name intro- duces this article, was born and reared in the Rhine district of Wur- temberg, where the family home was in the same neighborhood as that of Jacob Gunzenhanser, who came to the United States and became the founder of the well known family of that name in Erie County. Ohio. his first settlement having been at Sandusky, the present metropo- lis and judicial eenter of the county. Reports carried baek to Germany by letters from this former neighbor and valued friend so impressed young Weitzman with the advantages and opportunities offered in
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Ameriea that he decided to join Mr. Gunzenhauser in Ohio, a reeord concerning the latter being found on other pages of this work, in the sketeh of the career of his son, John G. Gunzenhauser.
As a lad of fourteen years Carl Weitzman severed the home ties and bravely set forth for the New World. At Hamburg he embarked on a sailing vessel of the type common to that period, and by this medium he found transportation to New York City, the voyage having covered a period of several weeks. From New York he made his way to Sandusky where he received a warm welcome by the Gunzenhauser family, and as a sturdy and ambitions youth he soon found employment on sailing vessels plying the Great Lakes, his first experience being that of assistant cook in the galley. He continued to be connected with this department of service on the lakes for many years, and in the connection was pleasantly associated with a number of the old- time lake eaptains of broad experience and high reputation in their chosen vocation, the while his ability and uprightness combined with his genial nature to gain to him the high regard of those with whom he eame in contact and made him well known and distinctively popular in lake-marine cireles. From the year of his arrival in America until after he had passed the sixtieth milestone on the journey of life he found employment as a cook on vessels plying the lakes, and in his department he gained specially high reputation, it being well known and axiomatie that it is often easiest to appeal to a man's heart through the medium of his stomach. After severing his association with navi- gation interests Mr. Weitzman finally assumed an executive position with the Wickham Company, of Huron, engaged in the fish and lumber business, and he continued to be thus engaged until within a few years of his death, the closing period of his long and useful life having been passed in well earned retirement from business activities and his death having occurred at IIuron, in Deeember, 1909, at which time he was seventy-one years of age. Though he was reared and confirmed in the Catholic Church, he became a Protestant after his marriage, his wife having been a member of the German Reformed Church, with which he affiliated, though not as a constituent member.
As a young man Mr. Weitzman married Miss Agnes Wunderley, who was born at Huron, this county, in 1847, and who was here sum- moned to eternal rest in January, 1911, her entire life having been passed in her native place and her circle of friends having been limited only by that of her acquaintances. She was a daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Rice) Wunderley. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Weitz- man was Alexander Wunderley, who was born in Switzerland, a scion of a strong, thrifty and aggressive old family of that fine little republie. He was reared and educated in his native land and shortly after his marriage he immigrated with his wife to the United States, in the early period of the nineteenth century. After a weary and tempestnous passage the vessel on which they sailed dropped anehor in the port of New York City, whence the journey was continued by the primitive means then available, river, eanal and Lake Erie to the Ohio shores. Mr. Wunderley became one of the pioneer settlers of Seneca County, this state, where he obtained a tract of wild land from the Government and instituted the reclamation of a farm, this old homestead having been situated near the present City of Tiffin. There he and his wife passed the residne of their lives, sueeess having attended their earnest labors as members of the early farming community, and both attained to advanced age, their religious faith having been that of the Catholic Church. They reared a large family of children, all of whom are now deceased. Of the children Alexander, Jr., was born on the old home- stead in Seneea County, about the year 1813. He was there reared to
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adult age and in his youth learned the trade of shoemaker. At some time between the years 1830 and 1832 he came to Erie County and established his home in the little hamlet of Huron, with whose civic and material development he became closely concerned, and for many years he continued one of the honored and influential citizens and business men of this place, whose river and he harbor on Lake Erie early made it a point of more than little commercial and industrial importance. In the thriving little village he engaged in the work of his trade, and eventually he built up a large business in which he employed several assistants in manufacturing the old-time boots and shoes, Later he became identified with other lines of mercantile enterprise and he eon- tinued his residence at Huron until his death, in 1868. Both he and his brother Elias, who likewise was a resident of Huron County, were deprived each of a patrimony of about $2,500-a very appreciable sum at that period-both having been disinherited by their father because of their apostasy from the Catholic Church, though they never afterward became regular members of any other religions organization. Alexander Weitzman, Jr., wedded at Huron Miss Elizabeth Rice, who was born in Germany, in 1816, and who came alone from her native land and became a resident of Huron, Erie County, when she was a girl of but fifteen years.
Captain Weitzman of this review was the second child and eldest son in a family of five sons and two daughters: Clara, eldest of the number, is the wife of Lucius La Voo, who is a tug engineer by voeation, and they reside at Huron, their four children being Edith, Ruth, Wil- liam and Yale. Louisa, who became the wife of Charles MeLaughlin, is deceased and is survived by two children, Clifford and Mildred, both of whom are now married. Frank is a resident of Sandusky where he is engaged in the mercantile business and has served as a member of the city council; he has no children. Otis was drowned while on a pleasure trip on Lake Erie and was nineteen years of age at the time, in 1896. Howard is engaged in the insurance business at Youngstown, this state, and has two sons, Lene and Vance.
Captain Weitzman grew to maturity in Huron, received the advan- tages of the public schools and at the age of eighteen years initiated his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes, his first position having been on the schooner David Provost, on which he finished the navigation season of 1885 as a sailor before the mast. In the following season he was on the Comrade, as was he also the next season, and the fol- lowing year he served as watchman on the steamer Columbus. Ilis next work was as wheelman of the Wetmore, and later in the season of 1890 he assumed a similar position on a superior vessel commanded by Capt. John E. Peterson, of Huron, a veteran and hon- ored vessel master from this port and part owner of the Comrade. ('aptain Weitzman served on the steamers Columbia and J. C. Lockwood under Captain Peterson, with whom he continued to be thus associated several years, in the capacity of wheelsman and second mate, to which latter position he was promoted in 1892. In 1894 he was advanced to the office of first mate and he remained with Captain Peterson in this capacity until 1896. In the following year he was with Captain Dick Jolly of the C. B. Lockwood, and the following year found him retained as first mate of the Appomattox. In 1898 he was first mate of the steel vessel Meseba, and thereafter he was first mate of a similar vessel named the Maritanna, on which he served a por- tion of the season of 1902. Ile then received his first distinct command, as master of the steel barge Maderia, on which he finished the season. Thereafter he commanded in turn the Joliet, the German, the Meseba, of which he had formerly been mate; and from 1907 to 1910, inclusive,
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he was in command of the Maricopa. From 1911 to 1914 he served each successive season as master of the steamer Harvard, a vessel of 7,000 tons burden; and the season of 1915 found him in charge of another vessel. He has made an admirable record in his chosen vocation and is known in maritime circles throughout the entire Great Lakes system, with a popularity based on steadfast integrity and genial personality.
Captain Weitzman gives. his political allegiance to the republican party ; he and his wife and their son are members of the Presbyterian Church at Huron, and in his home city he is affiliated with Lodge No. 369, Free & Accepted Masons, and with Huron Lodge No. 756, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed the various official chairs.
At Huron was solemnized the marriage of Captain Weitzman to Miss Mollie Stickrath, who was born and reared at Vermilion, Erie County, and who is a daughter of John and Joan ( List) Stickrath, both natives of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, though their marriage was con- tracted at Vermilion, Erie County, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, he having been a shoemaker by trade and voca- tion. Mr. 'Stiekrath died in middle life and his widow attained to the age of seventy-two years, both having become members of the Lutheran Church after they came to America. Henry Stickrath, the one surviving brother of Mrs. Weitzman, is a resident of Marion, this state, and the maiden name of his wife was Ella Thompson; they have no children. Captain and Mrs. Weitzman have one son, Hiram C., who was born in the year 1895, and who was for two years a student in Oberlin College; in 1915 he completed a course in a business college in the City of San- dusky.
CARL KNITTLE. Along the lake shore in Vermilion Township is sit- uated the attractive home of Carl Knittle. He owns sixty-five acres of highly improved land situated on Main Market Road No. 13, with an outlook over the waters of Lake Erie. Carl Knittle has spent all his life in this one locality, and his place has the advantage of being located near Mittewanga Grove and near Ruggles Grove, two well known parks and summer resorts.
On this farm Carl Knittle first saw the light of day May 25, 1877. He acquired the land from his father, and has for fifteen years been one of the progressive men in the agricultural line in this section of Erie County. He raises fine grain erops, fruits, particularly apples, and everything he undertakes he carries forward with characteristic energy and progressiveness. His home is a substantial seven-room white house with green trimmings, and besides various other farm buildings he has a substantial barn 36 by 64 feet.
It was in 1900 that Mr. Knittle acquired this farm from his father, Jacob Knittle. Jacob Knittle was for many years a leading farmer in Erie County. He was born in Hesse, Germany, in 1830, and his parents lived and died in the old country. He had six brothers and three of them came to the United States together, but they separated at New York City, and they were never afterwards in touch with each other. Jacob Knittle was twenty-two years of age when he came to America. He made the voyage by sailing vessel from Bremen to New York, and was on the ocean seven weeks. This was an unusually long trip even for the slow-going sailing vessel. The passengers were subjected to many discomforts and privations, they had little food and water, and they were afflicted with all the ills to which passengers on ocean-going vessels forty or fifty years ago were exposed. Some weeks after arriving in New York City he found a home in Vermilion Township and worked as a farm hand for Simeon Phels. Some years later he invested his
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meager earnings and savings in twenty-six acres of land on the lake shore. To this he added thirty-five acres, and the entire place is now owned by his son Carl. On this old homestead Jacob Knittle and wife spent many years. Ile passed away May 3, 1894. He was a member and official of the Mittewanga German Reformed Church and in politics a strong democrat. Ile was married after coming to Vermilion Town- ship to Susanna Altmiller. She was born in the same locality of Ger- many as her husband, being a few years younger, and was still a girl when her parents died. She eame as a young woman to America on the same vessel that brought Jacob Knittle, and they married after reaching Erie County. She died at the old home on the lake shore November 14, 1911, at the age of seventy-nine. There were six children in the family: Henry, who is a farmer in Berlin Township and has five children ; Valentine, a farmer in Townsend Township of Huron County, who is married and has a son and six daughters, including three pair of twins; Anna, wife of John Croll, a well known resident of Erie County; Mary, who died at the age of fifteen; and George, a farmer and truck gardener in Lorain County, who married Miss Mary Ruth.
Carl Knittle was reared and educated in Vermilion Township. He has shown himself to be a live business man, and though not yet in the prime of his years has possessed himself of those things for which am- bitions men put forth their most strenuous endeavors.
In his home township he married Miss Catherine Knoch. She was born in Vermilion Township June 29, 1886, was reared and educated here, and has spent practically all her days within sight of Lake Erie. IIer parents were George and Catherine (Hildebrandt) Knoch, both natives of Germany. Her father came when a young man to the United States and to Erie County, and was married in Vermilion Town- ship. Mrs. Knoch died when her daughter, Mrs. Knittle, was four months old. Mr. Knoch subsequently married a second time, but both he and his second wife are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Knittle are the parents of the following children: Jacob, born January 11, 1906, and now in school; Earl, born October 13, 1907; Almon, born Jannary 28, 1909. Mr. Knittle and wife are members of the German Reformed Church, and for a number of years he served it as a deacon. In polities he is a democrat.
JOHN H. REIBER. No elass of people in Erie County enjoy greater comforts and advantages than those who live on the farms. John H. Reiber has spent all his life in Vermilion Township, and now owns one of the fine places near the lake shore, and his material prosperity is reflected in his prominence as a citizen, and at the present time he is serving as township trustee.
Born in the same township and near the farm where he now resides July 26, 1873, he was reared and educated here, and the farm on which he was born he still owns. This comprises 571% aeres of land, all under thorough cultivation with the exception of eight acres in timber, and very productive both in general crops and in fruit. Mr. Reiber has six aeres in peaches and two acres in apples; but the chief feature of his farming enterprise is the growing of sweet corn. Ile usually plants about twenty acres in this erop and has sold his crop for more than a thousand dollars a year. Ilis specialty in sweet corn is Stowell Ever- green. He also grows other crops and keeps five horses, three eows and a number of hogs. Ile has a good barn 36 by 60 feet, but the house on the old farm is one that was built a number of years ago. As a tem- porary place of residence Mr. Reiber lives on the Lake Road and Drive near the street car line, having rented a place there.
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Ilis father was the late John Reiber, who was born in IIesse, Ger- many, April 8, 1836, and died at his home on the farm near the lake shore in Erie County August 16, 1901. His father, Henry Reiber, was a native of the same province and married a German girl who died in the old country when in middle life. She was the mother of John Reiber and two daughters, Eva and Catherine. In 1856 John H. Reiber set out for the New World, making the journey from Bremen to New York, and not long afterward locating in Vermilion Township of Erie County. Within a year or two he was followed by his father and the two daughters, who joined him at his new home. Henry Reiber died in Erie County when past seventy years of age. All the family were members of the German Reformed Church. The daughter Eva died after her marriage to George Akers, who is also deceased, but they have a son still living and well known in Erie County. The daughter Catherine is the widow of Henry Fischer, lives on the lake shore in Berlin Township at Ceylon Junction, and has a family of children.
John II. Reiber after coming to this country worked as a farm hand for some years. ITis wages were about six dollars a month, and the days of labor were in no wise restricted as they are now, and he toiled from early morning until late at night, frequently for twelve or thirteen hours out of each twenty-four. After that for some years he was a tenant farmer, and finally bought fifty-seven acres south of the Lake Shore Railroad; that being the place now owned by his son John. He also bought fifty acres north of the Lake Shore Railroad near the lake. Here he built a good house in 1896, and had previously erected a sub- stantial barn. That was the home where he spent his last years. He was a democrat in polities and an official member of the German Re- formed Church at Mittewanga, and helped to build the church edifice there and was one of its organizers. He had a great deal to show for his strenuous efforts while a resident of Erie County. His widow still occupies a substantial nine-room house on the old farm near the lake shore. Ile placed many other improvements on the farm and had a peach and apple orchard.
The late John Reiber was married in Berlin Township to Miss Catherine Gundlach. She was born in Salzburg, Hesse, Germany, June 6, 1846, and was eleven years of age when she eame on a sailing vessel from Bremerhaven to New York, a voyage that required thirty days. From there she came on to Berlin Township with her parents, IIeinrich and Anna B. (Hebeg) Gundlach, who were natives of the same province in Germany. Mrs. Reiber's Grandfather Gundlach and her Uncle Jacob were well known educators in Germany and the latter in recognition of his services had received from the Kaiser several medals. Mrs. Reiber's parents lived on a farm in Berlin Township, and died there when quite old people. They were members of the German Reformed Church. Mrs. Reiber still occupies the old home farm on the lake shore, and for years has been active in supporting the German Reformed Church at Mittewanga.
John II. Reiber was married in Berlin Township near Ceylon June- tion to Miss Catherine Otto, member of the well known Otto family of Erie County. She was born in Brownhel Township of Lorain County January 7, 1873, and was reared and educated in Berlin Township. She is the third daughter and child of Jacob Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Reiber are the parents of three children: Catherine, born February 8, 1905: George, born June 17, 1912; and Edna, born November 7, 1914. One son, John Jr., died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Reiber are members of the Mittewanga German Re- formed Church. They are people of the finest worth and character.
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maintain their place in social affairs, and lend their influence to every- thing for the betterment of their community.
IIENRY KUEMMEL. From a German farm hand working at wages of $18 a month to the presidency of the Bass Islands Vineyards Company indicates a remarkable rise in prosperity and general influence. It is a brief manner of stating the career of Ilenry Kuemmel, one of Sandusky's leading citizens and business men. He is now at the head of the Bass Islands Vineyards Company, which control the islands of that name and cultivate their fertile hills to the growing of grapes, which, owing to location and elimatie conditions, have a remarkable quality and flavor. These grapes are manufactured into two of the best known and highest grade brands of grape juice, one being the Dark Concord and the other the Golden Catawba. No grape juice on the market commands a higher price than the product of the Bass Islands vineyards, and its market is found in practically all parts of the world.
Henry Kuemmel was born in Germany, February 19, 1860, and came to America in 1893. He located on a farm on the Bass Islands, and worked for the next three years at $18 a month. He was then employed in a vineyard for a time and was paid the same wages for his services there. Ilis next work was with the Sandusky Fish Company for four years, after which he formed a partnership with A. L. Hitchcock, under the firm name of Hitchcock & Kuemmel, to engage in the fish business. They were associated in business for a year and a half, and Mr. Kuemmel then purchased the business and conducted it alone for a period. He then took in a partner, Henry H. Liesheit, and this continued for about three years. Mr. Kuemmel then formed a partnership with two of his nephews, under the firm name of Kuemmel & Company, and engaged in operating a vineyard on a farm he had bought a year or two previously on Bass Islands. In 1906, under his lead, was organized the Bass Islands Vineyards Company, of which he was made president.
With himself as president the Bass Islands Vineyards Company has been steadily enlarging its facilities and increasing product in quality and insuring a steady demand for all that can be manufactured. In 1908 the company erected a large and thoroughly equipped building, 85 by 160 feet, on North Depot Street, in Sandusky, and the plant has a capacity for turning out 50,000 eases of grape juice annually. It has the most modern machinery and appliances and the building itself is a modern fireproof structure. Mr. Kuemmel is now recognized as one of the largest vineyard operators around Lake Erie.
Ile has a nice home on Middle Bass Island. Mr. Kuemmel married Jennie Wilhelm, of Sandusky, Ohio, and his three children are: John W., horn December 19, 1900, a student in the Sandusky High School, entering when twelve years of age; August O. P., born September 10, 1908; and Conrad Henry, born May 17, 1910.
WILLIAM VOLLMER. Erie County has been fortunate in the class of citizens who have made their permanent home here, and it can take a special pride in those families that came here from Germany. An excellent representative of this class of local citizens is William Vollmer, who came here when a young man without capital and by hard work and good management has made an excellent farm home for himself and family.
He was born in Kurhessen, Germany, July 3, 1854. His parents, George and Martha (Lapp) Vollmer, were natives of the same provinee and of old German stock and ancestry. His father was a farmer, and both parents spent their lives in Germany, where they died when past seventy years of age. They were members of the German Reformed
Henry Kuemmel
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Church. There were three sons and three daughters, and only one of these are now living besides William, his brother George, who resides in Germany and has a family of nine children. One of his sons, John, came to America some years ago and now lives in Blissfield, Michigan, where he was married about two years ago.
After the manner of German youth William Vollmer grew to man- hood, attended the schools and was taught the value of industry and honesty. In October, 1880, at the age of twenty-six, he set sail from Bremerhaven, and came across the Atlantic on a steamship, landing in New York City. From there he came on to Vermilion Township and arriving as a stranger in a strange land and with nothing to commend him to the confidence of the new people except his honest intentions and ability to work, he found his first employment as a farm hand with Jacob Otto. Then followed four or five years of incessant labor, and in that time he became acquainted not only with local customs and conditions, but managed to save something out of his earnings so as to establish a home of his own.
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