USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 26
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The writer's table has been covered for weeks, with numerous letters, pass- ports, certificates and musty papers, dating back half a century and even more. The time worn pages of the old Clarion and Baystadt Democrat, tell of many well-meant but ill-spent endeavors of our forefathers, of incidents and official acts, that will appear ridiculous at this day. That a well-meaning member of the City Council of Sandusky, nearly forty years ago, to be faithful to his constituents, introduced a resolution that, chickens caught in the act of tres- passing, might lawfully be killed, is only a sample; but may it truthfully be said that after a fierce battle, not the chickens, but the resolution was un- mercifully killed. The aspirations of our city fathers did not, apparently, run high in those days, and instead of confining themselves strictly to the needed work, they allowed the golden opportunity to slip and Cleveland and Toledo to reap the harvest.
To confine ourselves more closely to the subject, very little, if anything, is known about the German settlers in Erie county, before the beginning of the present century.
Anton Eickhoff's claim in Der Deutschen Heimath, page 229, that a Ger- man Polander, by name Sodowsky, established a trader's post at the beginning of the past century, and before 1728, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, at the present site of Sandusky, is not sufficiently substantiated. His claim that Sandusky received its name from this trader is disputed by the noted historian George Bancroft, and others.
The German element may, without fear of contradiction, though, celebrate its centennial in Erie county, in kind remembrance of the good deeds of the Moravians, who established a mission in Milan township in 1787, under the leadership of David Zeisberger and .Johann Heckenwelder. History should spare them a page, and fame should keep alive the names of these heroes that sought out the rude savages of the forest and did what they could to civilize and elevate them.
The first permanent settlements in Erie county were made in the first and second decades of the present century, in about the following chronological or- der : Townships-Huron and Vermillion, ISOS ; Portland and Groton, ISog; Berlin and Milan, 1810; Margaretta and Oxford, 1810; Florence, ISII.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
No German names appear in the list of the first settlers excepting the name of a Mohawk German, Peter Cuddeback, who settled in Vermillion township in 1810, about two miles west of the river. He died in 1833. In the spring of 1828 Martin Eldis (originally Iltis), settled in Portland township, Sandusky, and opened a bakery and provision store on Water street, at a place known in our days as "Turner Hall." Martin Eldis was born at Munster, St. Gregori- enthal, Elsass, January 4, 1798, and emigrated to America in 1817. He was married in 1827 to Louise Guckenberger, at Cincinnati, O., and died on No- vember 28, 1852, leaving to his wife and children an abundant share of earthly goods.
"We were not welcomed," said the old esteemed lady to the writer, "on our arrival sixty years ago, we were advised to better move on; if it had not have been for the steamboat trade," she continued, " we never could have made a living in the first year or two. By and by though, the inborn element be- came more friendly to us, and learned to respect our ways. For nearly four years we were the only German family in this hamlet, and in all probability in the county."
In the following lines a list of names of the German settlers is given, who lo- cated permanently in Erie county between 1830-40. In some instances it was extremely difficult to obtain accurate information, not only because of the vagueness of memory, but of the imperfection of records. Again, the lives of some of our most esteemed pioneers have been made a target by an illiterate and unscrupulous writer, and for said reasons they were reluctant, and withheld information that otherwise would have been of great value. As it is, we claim, that this list is as complete and reliable as circumstances will permit :
Portland township, (Sandusky), population : 1820, 300 souls ; 1830, 594 souls ; 1840, 1,500 souls.
The Booss family who settled here in 1833 was possessed of great wealth in the old country. When Roesel, one of the family engaged to become married, some remarks were made about her diminutive stature. Her father simply said, " If Roesel will stand on a half bushel of crown dollars she will not look so small." And he was perfectly able to redeem his pledge. This happened in the good old time. The Booss family, who emigrated to America years af- ter, was still in possession of considerable means. Of nine children that left Bahlingen, in Baden, more than half a century ago, only two are living, Mrs. John Schmidt and Mrs. Aug. Hornung.
Fred George Booss was born November 9, 1812, and was married on Christmas eve, 1836, to Christine Rohrbacker, in Sandusky. He worked in Martin Eldis's bakery for years, and became the proprietor of the Portland House, one of the old landmarks of Sandusky. He died in 1860; his wife sur- vived him many years; she died in 1886. Jacob, who had a butcher stand. died in 1876. His widow lives on East Market street. William was drowned
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years ago. Martin died in Toledo in 1885. Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. J. Bauer, and Mrs. Peter Gilcher sleep at the side of their life companions at Oakland Ceme- tery.
The Magle family settled here in 1832. The two brothers were born in Mehringen, Wurtemberg, and emigrated in 1831, making Sandusky their home in the following year. They were blacksmiths by trade. George Magle was born March 21, 1814, and was married in 1835 to Theodora Mahler. He was one of the founders of the First German Evangelical Church in Sandusky, and a member of the Ancient Order of Druids. He died July 15, 1882, on his farm near the county poor-house. His brother John preceded him on his last jour- ney many years ago.
John Hoken settled here in 1833. Very little of his family record could be ascertained. He was a stone- cutter by trade, and a sample of his masterly work representing sun, moon and stars, may be admired at any time in passing Nic. Biglin's house on Market street. He died in the cholera time, 1849, dropping dead in front of the National House, and it is a common popular belief that he was buried alive.
Peter Gilcher was born at Essweiler, Rheinbayern, on May 24, 1812, and emigrated to America in 1833, arriving in New York City June 24th. He was a carpenter, and worked faithfully at his trade for years. The Venice Mill was built by him and Fred Reinheimer. He started into the lumber busi- ness about 1845, his yard being located at the corner of Hancock and Jeffer- son street. The business rapidly increased, and was transferred to its present location on Water street in 1853. He was married to Christine Barbara Booss on May 2, 1837. Of a large family of eleven children three died in their in- fancy, eight surviving: Magdalena Heck, Wilhelm Heinrich Gilcher, Peter Gil- cher, Christine Barbara Kunz, Carl August, Heinrich Johann, Josephine Ma- tern and Louise Reif. P. Gilcher was one of the founders of the First Ger- man Protestant Church in Sandusky, and its presiding officer for many years. For political honors he cared little, devoting his time principally to business and his family. In later years he served his constituents as infirmary di- rector, councilman and water-works trustee. He was at the time of his death vice-president of the Third National Bank. In all his dealings he was honest and highly respected by his fellow-citizens. He died July 1, 1877. His wife, Christine, followed him two years later, on August 3.
Henry Laubsher was born in Weingarten, Baden, and emigrated to Amer- ica with his wife, Catharine, in 1833, making Sandusky his home in the same year. Of the four children of their married life only one is now living, Mrs. Catharine Neumeyer, born May 16, 1834. She is, as far as the writer could as- certain, the second German girl born in the city. Mr. Laubscher was a mason by trade. He died in 1847, and his wife, Catharine, in 1883.
Nicolaus Biglin, originally Bueglin, is one of the oldest settlers in Sandusky. 31
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
He was born in Arlesheim, Canton Basel, Switzerland, on February 12, 1817. and came to America with his parents in 1832. The family settled in Rich- land county, near Mansfield. O., where his father died in 1833. In 1835 they moved to Sandusky. Mr. Biglin was married to Christine Louise Hornung June 12, 1847. Six of their children are now living: Marie Louise Ernst, John Louis, Louise Schoeneman, Nicolaus, Edward and Augustus Eberhard. Mr. Biglin was a common laborer, and retired from work some years ago, enjoying with his wife, excellent health and a well deserved rest.
Johannes Hornung and his wife, Anna Maria Reichenecker, emigrated to America with a family of six children in 1833. Rummelsbach, Oberamt Tii- bingen, Wurtemberg, was their former home. For a short time they lived in. Pennsylvania and Richland county, O., and in 1835 moved to Sandusky. Mr. Hornung died of cholera in 1849, and his wife, Anna Maria, in 1850. Five of their children are now living: Johannes, Christiana Biglin, August Wilhelm, Jacob and Albert.
Christopher Daniel. The Daniel family had their former home in Dorn- diel, Kreis Tieburg, Hessen Darmstadt. Christopher was born February 25, 1813, and emigrated with his wife, Marie, in 1835, making Sandusky his home in the same year. He was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade in the S. M. and N. R. R. shop till 1849. In the fall of that year he bought the Loffler property on the corner of Market and Fulton streets, and became engaged in the grocery business. His first wife died July 10. 1850. He was married again the following year, and died of cholera at his brother Peter's place in Perkins township on August 3, 1852. His second wife, Veronica, died in 1886. Pe- ter Daniel, his brother, was a tailor by trade; after working a few years at Put- in-bay Isle he moved into Perkins township, on a piece of land he had bought. He died in 1880. His wife, Dorothea, is living at this writing.
Jacob Lay, a son of Christian and Barbara (Stein) Lay, was born at Schaff- hausen, Baden, in 1814, and came to Sandusky with his wife, Maria Anna Balz- meyer, in 1836. He was the pioneer in Erie county in the brewing business. manufacturing small beer. He kept a grocery store at the corner of Water and Hancock streets, where L. Guth's hotel is now located. He died in the first cholera epidemic of 1849. His three sons, Henry, Jacob and John L., are en- gaged in the fishing business, under the firm name of Lay Bros. Christian Lay, the father, died in La Porte, Indiana. Barbara, his wife, died many years ago in the old country.
John Martin Zimmerman was born April 13, 1807, in Buechenau, Oberamt Brugsal, Baden, and crossed the ocean with his life companion, Louise, in the spring of 1834. His wife, Louise, dying on shipboard, found a watery grave a few days before he landed on the shore of this country. He was married to his second wife, Margaretha Fisher, on December 9, 1834, in Sandusky, and en- joyed all the blessings of a happy life with her for nearly fifty years. Of their
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twelve children, five are now living : Martin, Joseph, Mrs. Margaretha Embse (widow), Johann, and Mrs. Maria Fitzpatrick. Mr. Zimmerman was a weaver, but did not follow his trade in this country. His first home was located on Wayne street, where L. Herb's livery stable is located at present. For years he worked in Hollister's warehouse, established himself as a drayman after- wards, and retired from work in 1860, having run a saloon on Wayne street for several years. He died on December 14, 1884. His wife, Margaretha, pre- ceded him in 1881. John Fisher and the Guenther family in the German set- tlement, Perkins township, all came to this country in the same boat.
The Schuck family consisting of father, Jacob, and two sons, Jacob jr., and John, emigrated to America in 1833. Their former home was in Essweiler, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. In Albany, N. Y., they parted. Jacob, jr., the older of the two brothers remained with his wife in Albany, intending to make it his future home ; his father and brother, John, went west. Their path was not strewn with roses. A few weeks of hard work in a trench and Jacob broke his leg and to fill the measure his wife died in the same year and was buried in Albany. Left in a strange country, without means or funds he had only one desire, to meet again his father and brother, who in the meantime had di- rected their steps to Buffalo, N. Y., and in their nomade wanderings to Ken- ton, Massillon and Seneca county, O., where they finally had stranded. Here they met again in the summer of 1834 and kept council. It was decided to give Sandusky a trial, and with the royal fortune of fifty cents in their pockets did they walk all the way to the Bay City. A small house on Jackson street, near where Biemiller's Opera House is located now, gave them their first shel- ter. They went to work the next day. The building occupied at this writ- ing by Barney & Ferris on Water street, was then in course of construction and they busied themselves carrying up bricks, the father for seventy-five and John for fifty cents per day. It would occupy too much space to go into de- tail, but it is sufficient to say that perseverance and faithfulness received a proper reward. The father, Jacob, born in 1781, lived long enough to see his chil- dren well provided for in life. He died in 1861. Jacob, jr., the oldest son, was born February 22, 1802, and married his second wife, Magdalena Benz, in 1834 in Sandusky. He worked for six or seven years in a warehouse and became engaged afterwards in the dray business. He died March 11, 1879, at his homestead on Adams street. His wife, Magdalene, died June 12, 1875. His four children now living are Mrs. Marie Pietchman, Mrs. Julia Schumacher, Mrs. Wilhelmine Fisher and Mrs. Christine Schumaker. A son by the first marriage is now living in Minnesota. John Schuck, born April 22, 1817, and married in 1840 to Louise Knerr, is the representative of the family in Erie county. He is the oldest German settler in Sandusky with the exception of one. His wife, Louisa, died in her seventieth year, May 9, 1883. Mr. Schuck retired from active life about 1871, having accumulated considerable property.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Of the five children of wedded life, four have died, only one now living, Ran- del Schuck, born October 6, 1843, a partner in the prosperous lumber firm of Gilcher & Schuck, located on Water street, a stone's throw from where his father and grandfather found their first shelter.
Gottlieb Schieble. The Schiebles had their former home in Switzerland. in the village Fisselsbach, Canton Aargau, and emigrated to America in 1832. Gottlieb was a mere lad of eleven years, when his parents, John Louis and Maria Schieble left the old homestead to better their condition in life. In the same year they settled in Richland county, O., six miles west of Shelby, and moved to Huron village, Erie county, in 1836. In 1842 they made Sandusky their permanent home. Gottlieb, born February 27, 1821, started for himself in 1834. There must have been something of the idyllic life of an Alpine shepherd boy in him, when he hired himself to James Fore- man in Sandusky, in 1834, to take charge of a thousand or more sheep, that found an abundant pasture ground, and gratis, where Sandusky stands to- day. Foreman (old settlers will remember him well as an outspoken advocate of the doctrines that found a champion in Bob Ingersoll) paid him three dollars per month and board. In 1836 he started to work for L. S. Beecher ; a few years later he became a sailor and crossed the lakes till he entered the port of matrimony with Catharine Homegartner in January, 1850. Of the seven chil- dren of wedded life, five are living, Maria Price, Joseph, Frank, Henry and William. Gottlieb resides on Clinton street, Sandusky, and is in easy circum- stances. He owns a small farm of about fourteen acres near the brick mill in Margaretta township. His father died in the first cholera ('49) and his mother, Maria, in 1882.
Johann Fehrenz came here in 1834.
" Froehlich Pfalz Gott Erhalt's ! "
It was a balmy day in the spring of 1833, when the Fehrenz family said good- by to friends, neighbors, and made their parting call to the dear ones slumber- ing in the little graveyard of Welgsweiler in Rheinpfalz, one consolation it was that trusted friends, the Schuck family and Peter Gilcher and Fred Reinhei- mer took passage on the same boat to share their lot. Without question many a tear was shed when the songs of the old fatherland died slowly away in the stillness of the night and when they timidly directed their thoughts to what would become of them in a strange land. John Fehrenz felt confident that his strong muscular arms and his trade as blacksmith, would well support his lov- ing wife and his two children. He was in the prime of life, being born on June 17, 1795, and his wife, Julianna Steinhauer, was ready and willing to help him ; as for the children Philippine was in her twelfth year and Charles in his fourth, and they should share in what they honestly expected to accomplish in their new home. It is well that providence does not acquaint us with our destinies,
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as otherwise it would lame our hands before having made an earnest effort. In the summer of 1833 the family located in Massillon, O., and Fehrenz started to work at his trade. In the year following his wife died and was buried at that place. In the winter of 1834 he moved with his motherless children to Sandusky and opened a blacksmith shop on Wayne street, next to the old Hoelzer House, his earnings being insufficient though for support, he moved back to Massillon where he faithfully worked at the anvil from 1836-46, when he retraced his steps to the Bay City. His two children had, in the meantime, grown up and were in a condition to take care of themselves. His daughter, Philippine, born January 30, 1823, had in 1840 taken Peter Unckrich as a partner, and Charles, born August 9, 1829, had found employment in a shop. Back then in Sandusky they opened a provision store and saloon on Water street next door to the old Bethel Church, under the firm name of Fehrenz & Unck- rich. In 1849 John Fehrenz entered for the second time the bonds of matri- mony. His life companion, Caroline, did go him one better, having buried two husbands, Boehm and Reber in succession. Her dower consisted princi- pally in the two children, Amalia Boehm and Frederick Boehm, being nine and eleven years old respectively. In her sixteenth year Amalia was married to Ferdinand Geiersdorf, who became one of the most popular Germans in San- dusky, and was elected mayor repeatedly by a rousing popular vote. He ac- cumulated great wealth in the fish business; his goodness was proverbial. He died September 22, 1870, lamented by all who knew the kindness of his heart. His widow, Amalia, married again in 1872, choosing Louis Adolph as a part- ner (Adolph & Zollinger). She died on February 9, 1888. Fred, her broth- er, is foreman in the extensive fish business of his brother-in-law.
Old Father Fehrenz, as he was commonly called, reached an old age. He was a founder of the first German Church, and although he left no fortune his children inherited an honored name without a speck or stain.
Philippine's husband, Peter Unckrich, was born May 17, 1817, in Hoch- staedten, Rheinpfalz, and emigrated in 1837. He died September 23, 1870. The children born to them are all living in Sandusky (excepting one) and are highly respected. They are Julianne Bauer, Crawford county ; Elizabeth Ker- ner, Philippine Koegele, Emilie Zimmerman, Carl, Johann and Ferdinand. The widow, Philippine, now resides on the corner of Clinton and Madison streets.
Charles Zollinger came to this county in 1835. In the list of German pi- oneers the Zollingers take a well deserved place. Uprightness and fairness in all their dealings, and an exemplary Christian life call for a more than passing notice. Charles Zollinger was born July 23, 1813, in Wiesbaden, Nassau, and emigrated to America in 1835. He was a wood-turner by profession and made Sandusky his permanent home in the same year. His stepfather, Will- iam Meyer, and his mother, Johanette, settled in Richland county, where they
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
lived on a farm for several years. They subsequently moved to Sandusky and then to Fort Wayne, Ind., where they died, being respectively seventy- five and eighty-three years of age. Charles being a skillful mechanic found ready work in Thomas White's cabinet shop on Hancock street, near the east Market Square, and was in his employ for nearly five years. Whenever you pass O. Follett's house on the corner of Wayne and Adams streets, look up to the bannister's and scroll work, they are samples of his work dating back to 1836. In 1840 Charles Zollinger branched out for himself on the corner of Wayne and Washington streets, by renting a wooden structure belonging to the Clemons family on the Peninsula. He employed from four to six work- men all the year round. In those days nothing was known about "cheap John " goods, everything was substantial and made to last for a generation or two. Improved machinery and cheap labor put an end to this as well as many other industries that were prosperous in the good old time. In the cholera of 1849 his shop was running day and night to meet the demand for coffins, plain and unfinished as they were. In 1863 he moved his shop to Wayne street, next door to the corner of Market. Undertaking had then be- come the most remunerative part of his business. He retired in 1868 in pos- .session of considerable wealth. Christ R. Ruff (member of the firm of Ruff, Son & Kugler) became his successor. Charles Zollinger was married in 1839 to Christine Schmidt, who was born April 14, 1821, in Bahlingen, Baden. Of the twelve children born to them in married life ten are now living, viz .: Maria Nagele, Sandusky ; John, Adolph and Zollinger ; Henriette Weiss, San- dusky; Catharine Schneer, Elyria; Carl, Columbus; Christine Crass, San- dusky ; Elizabeth, Sandusky ; William, Powers & Zollinger ; Frederick, Third National Bank; and Frank, Sandusky. Mr. Zollinger died in 1868. His widow is enjoying good health and the fruit of hard and honest work.
Johannes Schmidt was in Bahlingen, Baden, in 1784, and emigrated with his wife, Catharine Ernst, in 1833. He was a baker by profession. Their journey through France was accomplished by wagon. In Havre de Grace they took passage with the Booss family on the sailing vessel Henry Clay. The Booss family were very wealthy, said the Widow Zollinger, in conversa- tion to the writer, the chest containing their money and valuables was heavy enough to require two men to lift it on the wagon. For seven long weeks did they encounter wind and storm on the ocean. At their arrival in New York they directed their steps to the metropolis of the west, Sandusky. The steamboat Perry landed them safely near the B. and O. R.R. shops. A little house on Water street was their first home, but they did not stay more than two or three weeks, when they moved to Richland county, the El Dorado in those days, as the name plainly signifies. Here Johannes Schmidt settled with his wife and children, here he toiled and died. Land was cheap in those days, fifty dollars paid for their first homestead of forty acres, but it was a wilder-
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ness, tasking physical strength to the utmost. In order to lessen the burden the older children left the parental roof and came to Sandusky in 1834, where Christine found work in Hollister's family and John in a baker shop. John lived only a short time in Sandusky when he moved to Fremont, Toledo, and in the gold fever to California. In 1852 he came back to Sandusky and en- gaged in the wholesale liquor business on Water street with his brother-in-law Parsons. He died several years ago. His wife is living on Jackson street. Johannes Schmidt died February 22, 1870, and his wife, Catharine, on Janu- ary 16 of the same year. The names of their children are as follows: Chris- tine Zollinger, Maria Barbara Holderman, Elizabeth Nicolai, Frederick, John, Catharine Klink and Rosine Schroeder.
Valentin Nicolai was born in Saxonia in 1806 and emigrated in 1834. He worked at his trade, that of carpenter, for many years with Peter Gilcher and F. R. Rheinheimer. In 1837 he was married to Elizabeth Schmidt; of their six children four are now living : Frederick, residing in Tiffin; Ezra, also a resident of Tiffin ; Johannes, residing in Cincinnati, and Christine Scheer, of Michigan. Mr. Nicolai died of the cholera in the epidemic of 1849. His widow is living at the Rohrbacher homestead in Perkins township.
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