Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 38

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 38
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 38

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R EV. NOAH HENRICKS, a retired farmer and minister, now residing in the village of Lindsey, San- dusky county, has witnessed, as few others have, the marvelous transfor- mation of a tangled and almost impass- able jungle into a pastoral region of sur- passing fertility and beauty.

He was a lad of tender years, with mind keenly susceptible to impressions, when his father, a prominent pioneer and farmer, moved from the rugged hills and valleys of Perry county to the noted "Black Swamp" of northwestern Ohio. Gifted with a prescience of their future valuc, he bought extensively from the government the rich swamp-covered lands of Washington township, Sandusky coun- ty, trusting to the coming years to vindi- cate the soundness of his judgment in

thus investing in lands which most pio- neers avoided. The scene was truly un- inviting. Log-choked streams lazily flooded the entire region, and rank veget- able growth contended with the slimy waters for supremacy over the soil. Vine- clad monarchs of the forest with tops in- terlaced, and with trunks inclined at every conceivable angle, conspired to keep the rays of the sun from the oozy surface.

Hither in 1830 came Jacob and Eliza- beth (Hufford) Henricks and their eight children, the ninth and youngest being a native of the new home. Jacob Hen- ricks, who was born in Pennsylvania, moved with his parents, in 1807, to Perry county, Ohio, was there married to Eliza- beth Hufford January 15, 1811, and there remained until his migration to Sandusky county in 1830. His children were as follows: Katie, born December 8, 1811, married George Hetrick, and died in 1894, leaving ten children; Sarah, born July 29, 1814, married John Overmyer, and is now deceased; John, born Novem- ber 8, 1816; Noah, subject of this sketch, born Nouember 13, 1818; Susan, born January 14, 1821, now living in Indiana, widow of Samuel Rerrick; Rebecca, born December 6, 1822, wife of Jacob Wagg- ner, of Indiana; Jonah, born December 9, 1824; Elizabeth, born May 20, 1827, now the wife of Jonas Engler, and resid- ing near Flat Rock; Jacob, born August 16, 1831, a farmer of Wood county, Ohio.

After his removal to Sandusky county Noah Henricks, the subject of this sketch, attended the district schools until his seventeenth year, when he began a course of study, preparatory to entering the ministry in the German Baptist Church. When thus equipped, Rev. Henricks filled the pulpit for four years, preaching in Ohio and throughout Illinois. He filled the station of a bishop, which per- mitted him to preach without restriction, and not requiring him to follow the cir- cuit and stay but one year in each place.

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In January, 1831, his father purchased 160 acres of land in Washington town- ship, and this, from 1850 to 1890, was the home of our subject. He married Miss Katie Reed, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Swinehart) Reed, who in an early day migrated from Pennsylvania, their native State, to Perry county, Ohio, and in 1833 came to Washington township, San- dusky county, where they died. In relig- ious belief they were Lutherans. They had a family of eleven children, as fol- lows: Elizabeth, Samuel, Katie, Polly, Peter, John, Jonathan, Rebecca, Eliza, Caroline, and an infant unnamed. To Rev. Noah and Katie Henricks have been born four children: John, who married Catharine Yagle, and had four children- Alice (married to William Engler), and Arda, Clara and Esta (all three single); Sarah, widow of Jess Hetrick; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Buck, a farmer in San- dusky county, who has three children- Ida, Noah and Jennie; and Emily, who married John Ansbach, a lumberman of Oak Harbor, and has two children- Willie and Rolly. In 1890 Rev. Mr. Hen- ricks moved to the village of Lindsey, where he expects to pass his remaining days in confort, and amidst the scenes which bring back many pleasant memories of the long ago.

J BAUMANN & SON. Among the enterprising business men of Fre- mont, perhaps no firm is more widely and favorably known throughout Sandusky county than the firmof J. Bau- mann & Son, proprietors of the " Central Meat Market," corner of Croghan and Arch streets, opposite the City Hall.

JACOB BAUMANN, SR., the senior pro- prietor, was born in Villigen, Switzerland, December 6, 1827, a son of Henry and Verena (Hartman) Baumann, who lived on a farm near the borders of Baden. He attended school in his native place until fifteen years of age, when he learned

the trade of butcher. On May 10, 1850, he married Miss Elizabeth Vogt, daughter of John Vogt, a farmer, who afterward emigrated to America and settled in San- dusky county, Ohio. In the fall of the year 1854 Mr. Baumann came to America with his family, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the sailing vessel "Canvas Back" from Havre to New York City in forty-three days. Coming thence to Fre- mont, Ohio, he located on the east side of the Sandusky river, and worked at his trade as a butcher. The following year he kept a meat market at Clyde, Ohio. Returning to Fremont in 1856, he opened a grocery store and meat market on State street, in the Third ward, on the corner now occupied by Kline's block. In 1857 he sold out this business and removed to the West side, where he established an exclusively meat market. His "Central Market " was established by him in 1875. In the year 1877 his son, Jacob Baumann, Jr., became an equal partner with him, and they have continued together until the present time. Their patronage is such that for a number of years it has required the annual purchase of more than ten thousand dollars' worth of live stock, chiefly from the farmers of the surround- ing country. They are quiet and unas- suming in their manners, but possessed of a genial, friendly nature, and an obliging disposition. They are masters of their business, and their reputation for sound judgment and strict integrity is such that among farmers and city patrons their word is as good as their bond. In the year 1882 J. Baumann, Sr., built a fine brick mansion on Croghan street, oppo- site the Court House yard, which has since that time been occupied as a family residence, and is an ornament to the city. The children of Jacob Baumann, Sr., and his wife Elizabeth, née Vogt, were: Jacob Baumann, Jr .; Anna Baumann, who died at the age of forty-two years; Eliza Bau- mann, at home; Albert V., whose sketch appears elsewhere; and Hattie, at home.

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JACOB BAUMANN, JR., junior member of the firm of J. Baumann & Son, was born in Switzerland July 23, 1850, and came with his parents to Fremont, where he received a limited school education, and learned to follow the occupation of his fa- ther. He married November 1, 1877, Miss Minna Richards, daughter of Prof. Frederick Richards. She died July 15, 1892, the mother of children as follows: Gertrude Leone, born August 9, 1879; Albert Otto, born October 24, 1880; Frederick Jacob, who died in infancy; and Frieda, born July 30, 1886. On Oc- tober 30, 1894, Mr. Baumann married Miss Ida Stapf, who was born March 30, 1861, daughter of William Stapf, of New- port, Ky. Their residence is on Garrison street, Fremont, Ohio.

G EORGE RIMMELSPACHER, a retired farmer, Fremont, San- dusky county, is a native of Baden, Germany, born March 28, 1812. His parents were Joseph and Christena ( Mowery ) Rimmelspacher, farmers and natives of Baden, the former of whom died at the age of seventy-seven, and the latter at the age of seventy-four years. They had eight children, five of whom came to America: Chrisence, Mary, Elizabeth, Sebastian, and George (our subject). Of those who remained in the Fatherland, Bernhardt only is still living.

Our subject grew to manhood in Baden, where he received a limited education in German, and learned the trade of black- smith. Hoping to better his condition, he emigrated to America, landing at New York City, May 27, 1836, and here worked at his trade one and a half years. He then went to St. Augustine, Florida, and drove stage coach two years, subsequently doing some blacksmithing for the United States Government, under direction of Gen. Zachary Taylor, who was in charge of soldiers there. He returned thence to

New York City, and in 1840 came to Ohio, locating on the Sandusky river, in Ball- ville township, Sandusky county, upon a farm of forty acres, to which more were added later, and where he lived about forty years. Here, by hard work and good management, for which Germans are noted, he accumulated a fortune which enabled him in his old age to retire from business. He has erected a fine brick residence on Garrison street, Fremont, which he makes his family home. He at one time owned 600 acres of valuable land in Sandusky county, which he disposed of by giving to each of his children a farm.

On September 14, 1840, George Rim- melspacher married Miss Elizabeth Gable, who was born April 4, 1818, in Alsace, Germany, and came to America in 1831. They had thirteen children, nine of whom are living: (1) Joseph A., who died at twelve years of age; (2) Jacob, a soldier of the Civil war, who married Anna Gar- ber, and whose children are-Florence, Henry, Ida, Ferris and Pearl. (3) Mag- dalena, wife of Henry Ochs, of Buffalo, N. Y., who has six children-Albert (who married Miss Bertha Shoedler, and has one child, Harold); Rosa (who married Casper Hodes, and has three children -- Rosa, Carl and Henry), Edward, Harry, Stany and Ralph. (4) Andrew, farmer, living in Ballville township, who married Miss Louisa Myers, and whose children are-Harry, Estella, Philber, Edward, Sylvester, Hedwig, Lovina, Sevilla, Law- rence, Marie, Clements and Regine. (5) Catharine, wife of Anthony Swint, whose children are-George, Frank, Lena, Liz- zie, Seraphine, Robert, Charles, Laura, Peter, Jacob, and Gertrude. (6) Rosa, wife of L. Engleman; she died August I, 1893, aged thirty-four, leaving two chil- dren-Amedius and Estella. (7) Mary, wife of Andrew Ochs, of Buffalo, N. Y .; they have one child-Frank. (8) George, a farmer of Sandusky county, who mar- ried Helen Koffler, and whose children are-Isabella, Eleanora and Henrietta.

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(9) John, who married Theresa Kochman, and whose children are-Seraphine, Jose- phine, Carl and Wilbur. (10) William, who married Christena Engler, and whose children are-Isadore and Wilbur. (II) Amelia, living at home. Two children- Peter and Frank-died in childhood. Mrs. Rimmelspacher died June 7, 1892, at the age of seventy-four years. The Rimmelspacher family are all members of the Roman Catholic Church.

J C. SMITH. This gentleman, one of the most prominent and influen- tial citizens of Gibsonburg, Sandusky county, is the surviving member of the firm of Smith & Dohn, who for some years have extensively engaged in the manufacture of lime. Mr. F. W. Dohn died about three years ago, and since that time Mr. Smith has had entire charge of the large interests of the business, and has conducted it very successfully, being assisted by Mr. Dohn's son. He is a man of strict integrity, and carries the princi- ples of religion into his business relations, gaining thereby the confidence and es- teem of all with whom he comes in con-

tact. He is also enterprising and pro- gressive, and always busy in promoting the welfare of others as well as his own. Mr. Smith was born in Sandusky county, west of Fremont, August 15, 1854, son of Nelson and Mary (Cookson) Smith, both of whom are still living. The father was born in 1824 in Franklin coun- ty, Ohio, near Columbus, and now resides in Washington township, Sandusky coun- ty, where he carries on farming, and where he has lived ever since his marriage. By trade he was a carpenter, and followed that occupation for some years. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His ancestors were prominent people in New England, and Israel Smith, of Fremont, this State, was his uncle. The mother of our subject was born in

Perry county, Ohio, in 1823, her family coming there from Pennsylvania. Our subject is one of a family of five children, of whom the following record is given: Josiah lives in Ballville township; Isabel died at the age of fifteen years; F. E. lives in Washington township; J. C. re- sides at Gibsonburg; and John lives on the old homestead in Washington town- ship.

J. C. Smith grew to manhood in Washington township, and acquired an excellent education in Delaware and Ober- lin Colleges, in the meantime interspers- ing his studies with teaching, thus putting to practical use the knowledge he ob- tained. He taught two terms at Ballville after leaving Delaware College, and be- fore entering Obertin, and after attending the spring and fall terms at the latter, again engaged in teaching for four terms at Bettsville, in Seneca county. He also taught three terms near his home in San- dusky county. In 1880 he was married to Miss Annie C. Bowlus, who was born in Sandusky township, Sandusky county, August 22, 1852, and to them have been born six children: Eula, May, Webb, Carl, Florence and Ina.

Mrs. Smith is the only daughter of Henry and Rebecca Williamson Bowlus. She was educated in Adrian (Mich.) Col- lege, where, in addition to her literary pursuits, she also made a study of music, which, for a time, she afterward tanght. Mrs. Smith's father was born September 27, 1810, near Middletown, Md., and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he still lives. His wife was born in Mid- dletown, Md., July 4, 1824, and died January 28, 1891, aged sixty-six years, six months and twenty-four days. She was married to Lewis L. Bowlus in her native town at the tender age of seven- teen years and six months, and immedi- ately afterward migrated with her hus- band to the West, settling in Sandusky county, Ohio, three miles west of where the

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city of Fremont now stands. The county was new, and largely covered with dense forests and impenetrable swamps; but here the young couple settled on a tract of land in the woods, built a small cabin and commenced clearing away the forest tim- ber. In the summer of 1848, however, the husband was smitten down with fever, and at the age of twenty-four she was left a widow with two children-Silas and Amos. Silas, the elder, died while in the army in 1864, and Amos three years later, while a student at Oberlin College. In September, 1849, she was married to Henry Bowlus, who survives her, and they lived happily together for over forty- one years. She was an active member of the Muskalonge Methodist Protestant Church some forty-seven years; she was in attendance at one of the meetings there, in which she had expressed her thankfulness to God, her Saviour, for the revival influence that was being enjoyed in the Church, when she was taken ill and at six o'clock in the evening death finish- ed its work, and that faithful Christian, that pure and loving wife and mother, in every respect worthy of imitation, and her name that will ever be held in loving re- membrance by all who knew her. She was buried in the little cemetery, just north of the church, together with kin- dred clay. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowlus were born four children, all of whom are living: Warren, Henry, Robert and Annie (Mrs. Smith). Mrs. Smith's paternal grand- parents were from Germany, and her ma- ternal grandmother from Scotland.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Smith engaged in the hardware business in Gib- sonburg, with M. W. Hobart, whose in- terest he purchased two years later, carrying on the business alone until in November, 1890, when he sold out to the Buckeye Oil Well and Supply Company. During this time (in 1883) he formed a partnership with Sanders, Dohn & Co., for the manufacture of lime, and they built one lime kiln, and opened a quarry

at Gibsonburg, Ohio. This partnership continued until 1888, when Mr. Sanders sold his interest to the two men, who then established themselves under the firm name of Smith & Dohn. They pur- chased ten acres of quarry land near a railroad, and during the fall of that year built an additional kiln. In the fol- lowing summer they added two more kilns, with an entire capacity of 450 bar- rels daily. The first year they shipped 80, 000 barrels of lime; in 1890 and 1891 their output was 70,000 barrels; in 1892, 60,000 barrels, and in 1893, 54,000 bar- rels, the production for 1894 being about the same as in 1893. In 1892 they pur- chased a tract of land south of Gibson- burg, which furnished them part of their supply of gas for their business. They have one oil well and five gas wells, which supply them with fuel. The firm employ from twenty to thirty men throughout the year, and make all their own barrels.

Judging by the manner in which Mr. Smith has managed his own business, it is conclusive that he is a supremely active man, and one who looks ahead and an- ticipates. On account of the low prices of lime-the result of overproduction and close competition-Mr. Smith took action in the matter and was among the first to organize a company. In 1892 a consol- idation of nearly all the white lime inter- ests was effected, and the company was called "The Northwestern Ohio Lime Co., " our subject being one of the di- rectors of same. It continued in existence but one year; but even that comparatively brief existence settled the point that where so much lime could be manufactured, some control must be had. In the early part of the year 1895, Mr. Smith and Mr. Sutliff undertook to organize a new company, with the assistance of a few other lime manufacturers; and after a couple of months or inore hard labor they succeeded in organizing "The Ohio Lime Co.," upon such a basis, too, as to make

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of it a comparatively permanent organi- zation (for five years), taking in all the white-lime interests in the State of Ohio. Mr. Smith is a director of this company, and its organization is so perfect, and it is working with such unqualified success that he justly feels proud of his energies so well directed. Good planning, judi- cious economy, and well-timed energy, properly applied, he claims, must lead to the success of any business.

Mr. Smith owns 160 acres, three and a half miles from Fremont, in Washington township, 105 acres of which is the estate of Rebecca C. Bowlus, and in addition to his other business, he is engaged in farmning. In the fall of 1894, in connec- tion with Peter A. Rust, he purchased fifteen acres from Fred Yeasting, and they were the means of having the school- house built on the west side of the railroad, having laid out the tract as an addition of the town. In 1883 Mr. Smith built the commodious home in which he lives, and here he enjoys life in the consciousness of duty well done, and energies well direc- ted. In politics he is a Republican, but votes the Prohibition ticket, as he is fully convinced that that policy is for the best interests of the county. He is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always been an earnest and active worker, being chorister and teacher in the Sabbath-school almost con- tinuously. He is foremost in every work in Church and community, and is highly esteemed and respected.

C HRISTIAN KISER, a well-to-do farmer and land-owner of San- dusky township, Sandusky county, was born in Alsace, France (now Gerinany), March 1, 1842, a son of Chris- tian and Salome (Young) Kiser.

The father of our subject was born in the same place in the year 1800, and was a carpenter and farmer in Alsace. He came to America in about 1851, and lo-

cated on a farm in Sandusky township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he died in 1863. He was a member of the Lu- theran Church. The mother was born in Alsace, and came to America, where she died at the age of eighty-three years. They had three children: William, Chris- tian and Caroline, all of whom live in Sandusky township. Of these Caroline married John Bender. Christian Kiser, Sr., had three children by a former mar- riage, of whom are named Fred, who died in Fremont, Ohio; Charles; and Eliza- beth, wife of Frederick Smith. The grandfather was about ten years old when he came to this country, and he attended school but a short time, as he was needed to help clear up the farm.

He worked at wood chopping and farming till he enlisted, October 17, 1861, in Company C, Seventy- second Regiment O. V. I., under Capt. Samuel J. Snyder. He served in the army of the Tennessee, and participated in the following battles, sieges, &c .: Crump's Landing, Tenn., April 4, 1862; Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862; Corinth, Miss., siege of, April 30 to May 31, 1862; Russell House, Miss., May 17, 1862; Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863; Vicksburg, Miss., siege of, May 18 to July 4, 1863; Vicksburg, Miss., assault of, May 19-20, 1863; Big Black River, Miss., July 6, 1863; Jackson, Miss., July 9-16, 1863; Branton, Miss., July 19, 1863; Hickahala Creek, Miss., February 10, 1864; Brice's Cross Roads (also known as Guntown), Miss., June 10, 1864; Harris- burg, Miss., July 13, 1864; Tupelo, Miss., July 14, 1864; Old Town Creek, Miss., July 15, 1864; Little Harpeth, Tenn., December 6, 1864. This ends Mr. Kiser's army service, and he was mustered out after the battle of Nashville, Tenn. (De- cember 15-16, 1864), and arrived home on New Year's Day, 1865. He had been promoted to corporal. He was never seriously wounded, and at Guntown, or Brice's Cross Roads, he made good his escape when about half of his comrades

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were taken prisoners, and was obliged to travel two nights and a day and a half without food or ammunition, and yet he says he was not at all sick of army life. After his return from the army he located in Washington township, where he en- gaged in farming about four years, after- ward locating in Elkhart county, Ind. In 1872 he returned to Sandusky township, where he bought the eighty acres he now lives on, and later eighty acres more. He also purchased 123 acres in Jackson town- ship. In 1884 he built his present brick residence.

On January 14, 1862, Mr. Kiser mar- ried Miss Rachel Rule, who was born Oc- tober 4, 1842, in Washington township, Sandusky county, where she lived until her marriage. Her parents, George and Sarah (Fessler) Rule, were natives of Cumberland county, Penn., the father born in 1788, the mother in 1798. They both died in 1865, Mrs. Rule's death oc- curring just three days after that of her husband, and they were buried side by side in Elkhart county, Ind. Their fam- ily consisted of fourteen children, thirteen of whom married and reared families. The children of Christian and Rachel Kiser, born in Sandusky county, are: Charles W., born September 8, 1863, liv- ing in Jackson township, married to Miss Eliza Auxter, a native of Rice township, by whom he had one child-Floyd; Will- iam, born February 18, 1866, died Oc- tober 11, 1868; Noah F., born July 28, 1869, living at home, married to Miss Clara Hetrick March 26, 1895; Salome, born February 8, 1871, widow of William Wagner, by whom she had two children- Grace and Martha; Joshua, born Novem- ber 4, 1872, married to Miss Martha Hed- rick, of Ballville township, and they have a daughter-Edna; Martha, born August 24, 1874, died December 10, 1880; Henry, born December 24, 1876, living at home; Christian, born January 12, 1879; John, born August 12, 1880; and George, born April 21, 1883.

Mr. Kiser is a Republican in politics, and a member of Eugene Rawson Post, G. A. R., and of the U. V. U. He was elected township trustee in the spring of 1893, and in the fall of 1894 was elected county commissioner of Sandusky county. He is one of the successful men of San- dusky township.

F REDERICK W. DOHN. The story of a good man's life can not be told too often. In this bus- tling age, when principle too often gives place to policy, and the greed of money-getting so easily obscures the sharp line which should be drawn between right and wrong, the example of a man, who, during his life, carried out the teachings of the religion in which he believed, is one worthy of preservation as an encour- agement to both old and young.

The subject of this sketch was a na- tive of Bavaria; his birth taking place August 31, 1839, and his death occurring at his home in Gibsonburg, Sandusky Co., Ohio, October 7, 1893. When a boy of fourteen he left his native country, in 1853, for the United States, having heard of this great Republic as the Eldo- rado in which wonderful fortunes were to be made almost for the asking. He was accompanied by his mother, brother and sister, the father having died about a year previous. They were very poor, having to borrow money for their trip across the ocean, and when they reached New York were without a dollar. Their first per- manent location was at Waukesha, Wis., and here Mr. Dohn secured a clerkship, and undertook the support of the little family. It was a heavy responsibility for a youth; but he was stout of heart and firm of purpose. For eight years he held this position, and became invaluable to his employer, with whom he remained until the failure of the latter in business.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 38

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040