USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 42
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Mr. Rohler was married in the fall of 1892 to Elizabeth Watercutter and they have had six children, namely: John, Frank, Margaret, Heinrich, Regina and Gregor. Mr. Rohler is a member of the Catholic Church at Montezuma.
JESSE W. MYERS
JESSE W. MYERS, a representative agriculturist and well-known citizen of Butler township, who lives on his valuable, well-cultivated farm of 100 acres, 50 acres of which are in section 22 and 50 in section 27, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, January 18, 1847, and is a son of John and Orilla (Philipps) Myers.
James Myers, the grandfather of our subject, came from Pennsylvania as a pioneer to Shelby County, Ohio, and in the pioneer home there John Myers, father of our subject, was born. When Jesse W. Myers was eight years old the family removed to Miami County, remaining there three years and then returning to Shelby County, finally removing to Greenville, Ohio, where the father passed the rest of his life.
Jesse W. Myers came to Mercer County in 1866, when 21 years of age, having visited several of the Western States prior to this. He worked as a farmer and later purchased land which was then all covered with standing timber. This he cleared, and effected many other improvements here during the ensuing years. Finally he owned 164 acres of excellent land. Subse- quently he gave his son 64 acres, retaining 100 acres, which he has placed under
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excellent cultivation. Mr. Myers carries on general farming and raises some stock.
In 1870 Mr. Myers was married in Mercer County to Mary C. Wyett, a daughter of John T. D. Wyett. Mrs. Myers died in January, 1893, leaving one son, John A., who resides on the home farm, unmarried. On January I, 1894, Mr. Myers was married (second) to Mrs. Jane (Frick) Andrews, widow of James Andrews. She had three children by the first marriage, namely : Chloe, who married Earl Poor and has one child, James Lowell; Clyde, who is employed in Judge Charles S. Younger's office; and Pearly, who died in infancy.
For the past 33 years Mr. Myers has been a member of the United Brethren Church, for a long time has been class leader and is now one of the stewards. He does not belong to any fraternal organization, but his son is a popular member of the Eagles. Mr. Myers is very highly respected in his neighborhood, bearing the reputation of a man of integrity and up- rightness, one whose influence is always cast in the direction of temperance and morality.
WILLIAM ELLIS NEWCOMB
WILLIAM ELLIS NEWCOMB, who has been a lifelong resident of Mercer County, is a well-known agriculturist of Center township, where he owns a valuable farm of 170 acres. He was born March 11, 1851, and is the son of Miletus Madison and Margaret Catherine (Ellis) Newcomb, and a grandson of Miletus Newcomb.
Miletus Newcomb, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ver- mont. He moved to New York at an early age and located in Essex County, subsequently removing to Licking County, Ohio, where he bought a farm in St. Albans township, where he lived until his death, September 14, 1837. His widow, who was Rhoda Hayes, in maiden life, lived until September 30, 1848.
Miletus Madison Newcomb, father of our subject, came to Mercer County at an early age and assisted in supporting his mother after the death of his father. He inherited 40 acres of the home place, afterwards acquired more land and at one time had 275 acres. He owned 100 acres of what is now our subject's place, but which was not a part of the old homestead. For some years he was engaged in the hay business, in partnership with his son, William Ellis Newcomb, being among the first to engage in the hay business in Celina, where he lived for four or five years prior to his death, which oc- curred July 9, 1903. He married Margaret Catherine Ellis, a native of Shelby County, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Sarah Hannah (Fer-
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rell) Ellis, who later became residents of Celina. Mrs. Newcomb is still living, being now 78 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb were the parents of 10 children : Miletus, who resides in Celina; William Ellis, subject of this sketch; Isaac, deceased; Sarah Hannah, deceased; Mrs. Melissa Raudabaugh, who lives in Celina; John Francis, who died in early manhood; A. B., who lives in Celina; Mrs. Minnie Steman, who lives on the home place; Oran, who lives on the home place; and Margaret May (Mrs. D. M. Miesse), who lives on a corner of the home place. Mr. Newcomb enlisted in the 100-day service during the Civil War and took part in several early skirmishes. He was a Republican in politics and served in several township offices.
William Ellis Newcomb was reared on the home farm in Center town- ship, where he remained until 33 years of age, when he moved to his present place, living for five years in an old log cabin. He cleared about 125 of his 170-acre property. In 1887, after selling his personal property, he moved to Celina and in partnership with his brother, A. B Newcomb, engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued for a period of 12 years. He sold out to his brother in 1899 and returned to his farm in Center township, where he has since resided, and where he is engaged in general farming and stock- raising. During the period of his residence in Celina, he was also engaged in the implement and wind-pump business for about six or eight years, and was also a large dealer in hay, buying and selling in great quantities.
Mr. Newcomb was married in 1883 to Melinda Carpenter, who died in 1887, leaving two children, as follows: Melissa, wife of J. B. Collins; and Ida Belle, who married W. S. Stanbery. His second marriage occurred in 1898 to Mary Harmon. Mr. Newcomb is a Republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
FRANK NIEKAMP, JR.
FRANK NIEKAMP, JR., whose fine farm of 80 acres is located in section IO, Marion township, was born August 6, 1875, in Franklin township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Clemmens and Catherine (Lindhaus) Niekamp.
Frederick Niekamp and wife, the grandparents of our subject, emigrated to America from Germany and settled at Tippecanoe, Ohio, where they lived for seven years. Mr. Niekamp then removed to Mercer County, where he traded an old surrey for a tract of land in Marion township. He was a man of more than usual intelligence and at that time was about the only man in the township who could speak English. On this account he frequently repre- sented the people in the courts of Celina. He was twice married. By his first wife, Catherine Newhouse, he had four children, namely: John, who married Anna Dabbelt for his first wife and Catherine Borget for his second-both now deceased; Clemmens, our subject's father; Joseph, who died unmarried
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at Cincinnati; and Mary, who married Rudolf Klostermann. By his second marriage, to Catherine Stammen, he had to children, viz: Henry, who mar- ried Catherine Koch; Elizabeth, deceased; Philomena, who married John Ronnebaum; Gerhard, who married Elizabeth Mestemaker; Peter, who mar- ried Frances Bertke; Catherine, who died young; Frank, who married Eliza- beth Klistermann; Julia and Theodore, both deceased; and a babe that died in infancy.
Clemmens Niekamp was born at Tippecanoe, Ohio, and accompanied his parents to Mercer County. Here he married Catherine Lindhaus, who was born in Mercer County, and is a daughter of Bernard Lindhaus, a native of Germany. They had two children: Frank; and Anna, the latter of whom married George Grapperhaus, and lives in Marion township. The father of our subject bought a farm in Franklin township and on that farm both he and his wife died, within three days of each other, this double bereavement com- ing to their son when he was but four years old, and to his sister when still younger. Their grandfather, Frederick Niekamp, took charge of the children and they were reared on his farm in Marion township.
Frank Niekamp, Jr., was reared and educated in Marion township and has devoted his whole life to farming. In 1898 he purchased his 80-acre farm from Anthony Weber, who was administrator for Henry Kaiser. It is a good property and is well managed by its present owner. Its improvements consist of the usual farm buildings, all of a substantial character, and a pleas- ant, roomy, frame residence, which is kept in fine order by Mr. Niekamp's estimable wife.
In the year he bought his farm, Mr. Niekamp was married to Catherine Wabler, who was born on the Wabler home farm in Franklin township, Mer- cer County, December 11, 1876. She is a daughter of Henry and Theresa (Koch) Wabler, who now live retired at Dayton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wabler had 10 children, as follows: John, Catherine, Anthony, Rosa, Anna, Frances, Elizabeth, Henry, Leo, deceased at the age of three months; and Regina.
Mr. and Mrs. Niekamp have had six children, namely: Leon and Hilda, both deceased; Amanda; John and Mary (twins), both deceased; and Rosa. The family belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. Niekamp is a member of St. Joseph's Society.
JOHN HENRY SCHWIETERMANN
JOHN HENRY SCHWIETERMANN, a well-known citizen and representa- tive farmer of Franklin township, owning and operating a farm of 185 acres situated in sections 33 and 32, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, October 29,
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1840, and is a son of Harman Arnold and Mary ( Broaman) Schwietermann.
The parents of Mr. Schwietermann were born in Hanover, Germany. Harmon A. Schwietermann lived on his father's farm in the old country until he came to the United States ; his brother-in-law being a large contractor and dyke builder, he frequently worked for him in Holland and other countries at dyke building. Harman A. Schwietermann had three brothers, Gerhard, Bernard and Henry, and one sister, but none came to America except himself. He married in Germany and with wife and one son, Gerhard, landed at New York, on SS. Peter and Paul's Day, in 1836, and immediately left for Buffalo, New York, where they remained for a short time and then pushed on into Ohio. The father bought a farm of 80 acres in Marion township, Mercer County, only about an acre of which was cleared, and later, as his children grew up, continued to add to his possessions until he owned, at the time of his death, some 300 acres. He carried on general farming and raised stock. His children born in America were: John Henry, Harman Henry, J. Bern- ard, Mary, Elizabeth, John and William (twins), and Anna and Joseph (twins).
John Henry Schwietermann, like his father and brothers, stands very high in public esteem in his neighborhood. He is an honest, industrious farmer and stock-raiser and his well-cultivated farm and fine home give testimony to his capacity as a farmer and his pride in his surroundings. His house is heated and lighted by a system of gas piping from a gas-well, of which well he is part owner; he also has telephone connection.
Mr. Schwietermann was married on June 12, 1866, to Mary Meinerding and they have four children, viz .: John, who married Martha Shell, and has five children-he was formerly a teacher in a high school in Missouri, but now conducts a general store; Charles, who married Caroline Will, lives on the old home place and has five children; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Folke and resides at Coldwater ; and Frank, single, who lives at home.
Mr. Schwietermann has always been a good citizen and has taken some interest in local politics, assisting in electing good men to office and in work- ing for public improvements. He has not often accepted office for himself, but did serve for a time as township trustee. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
PAUL HENRY HEMMELGARN
PAUL HENRY HEMMELGARN, whose well-developed and highly culti- vated farm of 130 acres is located in section 29, Granville township, was born June 10, 1853, at Minster, Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry Hemmelgarn, a native of Germany.
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Henry Hemmelgarn came to this country with his parents when two and a half years of age. His parents first located at Springfield, Ohio, and in a few years moved to Mercer County, where his father bought a farm of 80 acres in Cranberry Prairie for a very small sum. The land was cleared and a round-log cabin was erected, and here his parents passed the remainder of their days. They had a family of six children, namely: Mary, deceased; Elizabeth; Catherine; Theodore, a resident of Granville township, who mar- ried Mary Hulsman, now deceased; Joseph, deceased; and Henry, father of our subject.
Henry Hemmelgarn learned the carpenter's trade when a boy at Minster, where he lived for a few years after his marriage. In 1855 he moved to Granville township, Mercer County, where he bought a farm of 40 acres on the township line near Cassella. He subsequently sold this farm and took an interest in a sawmill at Cassella, in which business he remained for two years. He then bought 120 acres of land in Granville township and lived on this farm for about 22 years, when he sold it and bought 190 acres in Marion township, where he is still living with his son John, who has since bought the farm. He married Catherine Smith, who came from Germany with her parents when six years of age. They became the parents of these children: Paul Henry, subject of this sketch; Theodore, deceased in infancy; Catherine, who married Joe Hagerdorn, of St. Rosa; Bernard. who married Josephina Hes- selfelt and lives at Cincinnati; John, who married Bernardina Albers and re- sides on the old home place in Marion township; Charles, who married Philomena Gottemoller and lives in Marion township; William, deceased in infancy ; and Elizabeth, who married Herman Brandewie, of Auglaize Coun- ty. Mrs. Hemmelgarn died at Cranberry Prairie in December, 1872.
Paul Henry Hemmelgarn has always lived in Mercer County and been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He purchased a farm in 1877 from Mr. Fraser. This land was the old Landon Bennett place, which was entered in 1835 in the United States Land Office at Lima, and Mr. Hemmelgarn has the deed which is signed by President Van Buren. The Wabash River at one time run through this land, but now nothing remains but the river bed, as the course of the river has changed. The house, which is a large, six-room, frame building, sets back about a quarter of a mile from the road, and was erected by our subject in 1894. A large barn and other improvements have been added by him. Mr. Hemmelgarn has a well-kept vineyard.
Mr. Hemmelgarn was married November 9, 1875, at Cranberry Prairie, to Elizabeth Lemm, a daughter of William H. Lemm. They have had 10 children, namely : Catherine, who married Fred Gottemoller, lives in Marion township and has three children-Mark, Urban and Mary Elizabeth; Cecilia Anna, deceased in infancy; Elizabeth; Joseph; Mary; Charles; Henry ; Leo;
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RESIDENCE AND BARN OF JACOB ALEXANDER TINGLEY
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Theresa ; and Maggie, who is deceased. Mrs. Hemmelgarn died February 8, 1900. Mr. Hemmelgarn has served several terms on the School Board, and he and his family are members of St. Wendelin's Catholic Church at Wendelin.
JACOB ALEXANDER TINGLEY
JACOB ALEXANDER TINGLEY, a prosperous farmer and leading citizen of Mercer County, owns 241 acres of finely improved land, which is situated in one of the best sections of Union township. He belongs to good old Ohio stock, and was born May 4, 1861, in Dublin township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of John B. and Martha J. ( Baltzell) Tingley.
Our subject is of English and Scotch extraction. The Tingley family originated in England. Two brothers of the name came together to America very many years ago, one being a sea captain and the other a merchant. The latter married a Scotch lady and became the progenitor of the Tingley family that is under consideration.
William B. Tingley, grandfather of Jacob A., was born and reared in Clermont County, Ohio. His children were: John B., father of our subject; Jonathan, who lived and died in Cincinnati; Benton, who resides in Madison- ville, near Cincinnati; Albert, who resides near Cincinnati; Mrs. Elizabeth Black, who died in Ohio; and Anna, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Akins.
John B. Tingley, the eldest son of William B., was born April 15, 1825, in Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1859 he moved to Dublin township, Mercer County, settling on the farm on which he lived until his death, which is now owned and occupied by two of his sons, Nathan Andrew and Walter B. His death occurred January 7, 1903, in his 78th year. He married Martha J. Baltzell, who died in June, 1900, in her 64th year. She was a daughter of Jacob A. and Priscilla (Stewart) Baltzell, who moved from Hamilton Coun- ty to Van Wert County, and settled in Liberty township. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Baltzell were: Martha J .; Philip, who died in Hamilton County, Ohio; Nathan, who died in February, 1906, in Liberty township, Van Wert County; Samuel, who lives at Ohio City, Ohio; Harriet, who is the wife of A. T. Sutton, a prominent farmer of Dublin township; Alexander, who died in Van Wert County, some years since; and Lloyd, who died young.
The children of John B. Tingley and wife were: Jacob A., of this sketch; Harriet Priscilla, who married S. A. Clay, a native of Union township, and resides at Rockford; William Benton, a large farmer of Dublin township, owning and operating 160 acres of fine land, now serving his second term as
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township trustee, who married Anna Wert, of Liberty township, Van Wert County ; Nathan Andrew, who married Mary Foster, of Middlepoint, Ohio, and lives on his valuable farm of II0 acres, located on the line of Union and Dublin townships; Walter B., who married Bessie Bevington, of York town- ship, Van Wert County, Ohio, who resides on the old homestead of 103 acres in Dublin township, that he owns; Mary Etta, who married Thomas Tester, of Dublin township, and resides two miles east of Rockford, where they own a farm of 50 acres; Arthur, who died in infancy in Hamilton County, Ohio; and Samuel and Alwilda, both of whom died as infants, in Mercer County.
Jacob A. Tingley attended what was known as the Frisinger school, in Dublin township, during his boyhood. From youth he has been practically associated with agricultural life and is a thorough farmer. When he started out for himself, he bought 30 acres of land in Dublin township, which he later sold and bought 116 acres, to which he added 80 acres and finally a little over . 45 acres. This was formerly the old Archer homestead and he purchased 116 acres from the heirs, his next purchases being from a Mr. Boroff, and the Miller heirs. In 1900 he built his fine residence and substantial barn. His premises are equipped with every appliance for the modern style of farming, which he carries on in a scientific manner and prospers accordingly. In ad- dition to fertility, his farm is valuable on account of the discovery here of oil and there are several producing wells on his land. This portion he has owned but two years, when he bought the royalty. The five wells promise good returns.
On November 8, 1881, Mr. Tingley was married to Amanda J. Archer, who was born in Union township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a daughter of J. M. and Mary (Tomlinson) Archer, who settled on the present farm of our subject prior to the Civil War; here Mr. Archer died in 1887 and Mrs. Archer in 1874.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Archer were: Lucinda, who married William Shelley and resides in Union township; Amanda J., wife of Mr. Tingley; Scott, a resident of Michigan; Henry, a resident of North Balti- more, Ohio; John, a resident of Berrien County, Michigan; Alonzo, deceased ; Myrtle, who married Lewis Shindledecker and resides at Benton Harbor, Michigan; and a child that died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Tingley have two children, Edith and Joseph. The former married C. L. Ross, and they live on Mr. Tingley's place in Union township. Joseph was born April 16, 1883, and is engaged with his father on the home farm.
Politically, Mr. Tingley is a Democrat. In the fall of 1894 he was elected a member of the township Board of Education. He is a member of the
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Methodist Episcopal Church 'known as Wesley Chapel. Views of Mr. Ting- ley's residence and barn accompany this sketch.
JOHN PETER WRIGHT
JOHN PETER WRIGHT, a successful farmer of Washington township, residing on a farm of 80 acres situated in section II, was born July 2, 1860, in Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of David and Catherine (Sheets) Wright.
David Wright was born in Butler County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. After reaching manhood he moved to Miami County and lo- cated on a farm. He married Catherine Sheets and had two children : James Buchanan, who died at the age of seven years; and John Peter. About 1865 he moved to Mercer County and located on a farm about two miles south of the farm on which his son now lives. He was a tanner by trade, and always run a tannery in connection with his farming operations until his death, which occurred in 1872. Mrs. Wright died in 1886.
John P. Wright, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Washington township and was educated in the district schools of the township. He is now engaged in farming, but has also done some carpentering in connection with his farm work. Mr. Wright bought his present farm in 1885 and has made most of the improvements which have been made on the place.
Mr. Wright was first married in 1885 to Maggie Kettering, and they had one child, Ida Mabel, who married B. F. Powell and has two children- Delila and Margaret Mabel. Mrs. Wright died October 13, 1891. Mr. Wright's second marriage occurred on February 1I, 1896, to Mary Ellen Carmack, a daughter of Charles and Sarah Jane Carmack; Charles Carmack died in 1872 and his wife is still living in Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are the parents of two children: Ralph Eugene and Charles David. The large frame house which the family occupy was erected in 1894 and in 1905 the barn was built.
Mr. Wright served his township in various offices, having served two terms as assessor of Washington township, is one of the school directors and is also pike superintendent. He is a member and a deacon of the Wabash Christian Church. He is a member and is at present master of Wabash Grange, No. 236, P. of H.
ALOYS DABBELT
ALOYS DABBELT, whose fine 80-acre farm is located in section 34, Franklin township, was born on the Dabbelt home farm, near Sebastian, May 26, 1884, and is a son of Hubert and Rosina (Lindhaus) Dabbelt.
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Hubert Dabbelt was born in Germany and was 15 years old when he accompanied his father, Barney Dabbelt, to America. Barney Dabbelt was twice married; the children of his first union were: Gerhard, Anna and Hubert, and of the second marriage, Mollie, Ignatz and August. Hubert Dabbelt was reared on the farm on which his father settled and remained there until the death of the parents. He married Rosina Lindhaus, who was born in Ohio, but had German parents; her mother resides in this country aged about 85 years. The children born to Hubert Dabbelt and wife were: Barney John, who married Mary Hanfelder and lives on a farm near Monte- zuma ; Henry, who married Christina Heyne and lives at Dayton ; Catherine, who married Casper Clune and is now deceased; Frank Ludwig, who married Mary Schwietermann, lives on the home farm at Sebastian, Ohio; John and Caroline, who died young; and Aloys. The father died January 5, 1906, but the mother still survives and resides with her son Frank Ludwig on the home place. She is a lady of remarkable memory and can tell of the early days in this section in a very entertaining way.
Aloys Dabbelt remained with his parents until he was married, attending the neighboring schools and assisting in the operating of the farm. Mr. Dabbelt enjoys the distinction of being one of the youngest farmers, to own his own farm, in Franklin township. This property he purchased in June, 1905, from his father, and he has demonstrated his capacity as a farmer in his excellent management of it since it came into his possession. When he took charge, a comfortable six-room frame house stood here and the com- modious barn had also been built, but Mr. Dabbelt has continued to make im- provements of various kinds.
On June 13, 1905, Mr. Dabbelt was married to Agnes Schwietermann, a daughter of Joseph Schwietermann, a sketch of whom will be found else- where in this work. They have an infant son, Edwin Joseph, who was born May 30, 1906. Both Mr. Dabbelt and wife belong to the Catholic Church.
MILTON O. KRUGH
MILTON O. KRUGH, mayor of Mendon and principal of the Mendon High School, was born in York township, Van Wert County, Ohio, Octo- ber 25, 1868, and is a son of William and Malissa (Hays) Krugh, and a grandson of John and Mary (Miller) Krugh.
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