USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 46
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nearby page are shown views of Mr. Beougher's first residence and of his present residence and barn.
GEORGE SMITH
In the subject of this sketch is found one of Hopewell township's most highly esteemed citizens. He is the owner of 100 acres of valuable land, sit- uated in section 30, and has long been accounted a representative agriculturist of this part of Mercer County. Mr. Smith was born in Germany, December 23, 1839, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Garlag) Smith.
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Frederick Smith brought his family to America in 1847, and came di- rectly to Mercer County, Ohio. He was one of the early pioneers and found a still undeveloped country where are now fertile fields and every indication of a high state of civilization. He cleared up a large farm in Hopewell township, where the rest of a long and useful life was spent, which extended into his 100th year, his death taking place on June 30, 1906. Of his children, these survive: Henry, of Hopewell township; George, of this sketch; Andrew, of Hopewell township; Frederick, of Hanover, Michigan; Caroline, wife of George J. Smith, of Hopewell township; and Susan, wife of Jasper Cole, of Celina.
George Smith was reared among pioneer surroundings and can recall many interesting circumstances relative to early days in this township. His life has been one devoted to agriculture and he has done his part in developing farming interests and in raising the standard of agricultural achievement. He formerly owned 180 acres but has retained but 100, which he devotes to gen- eral farming and stock-raising. While his life has been a successful one, he has had much to contend with and his prosperity is but the reward of his own unassisted efforts.
In September, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company K, 43rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., which was attached to General Sherman's command. Mr. Smith took part in the famous "March to the Sea" and was concerned in the siege and subsequent capture of Atlanta. With the victorious army, Mr. Smith took part in the Grand Review at Wash- ington and was mustered out of the service in June, 1865.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Magdalena Myers, who was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied her parents to Hopewell township in girl- hood. The children born to our subject and wife were the following: Mary A., wife of Frederick Hasis, of Center township; Lydia C., wife of George W. Smith, of Liberty township; Callie, wife of Joseph Stedcke, of Hopewell township; Amanda, wife of Frank Stedcke, of Hopewell township; Frank D., of Hopewell township; Lulu L., wife of Richard Stedcke, of Hopewell town-
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ship; John F., of Jefferson township; Fannie, wife of William Eichenaur, of Hopewell township; and Pearl A., wife of James Highley, of Hopewell town- ship.
Mr. Smith has always been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party but has never aspired to office. He is a valued member of the Evangelical Association. Through a long and useful life he has maintained a reputation for strict fairness and integrity in his dealings with his fellow-citizens and con- sequently enjoys their respect and esteem.
GEORGE KETTERING
GEORGE KETTERING, one of the most prominent farmers of Recovery township, owner of 200 acres of farm land located as follows,-80 acres in sec- tion 18, Recovery township, and 80 acres in section 15 and 40 acres in section 16, Washington township, was born in Washington township, Mercer County, Ohio, November 25, 1856, and is a son of Henry and Margaret F. (Fennig) Kettering.
Henry Kettering was born near Strasburg, Germany, where he was reared and married. He came to America with his wife and child and located in Holmes County, Ohio, where his wife died shortly after, leaving one child, Catherine (Mrs. Leininger), who resides in Liberty township, Mercer County, Ohio. His second marriage occurred in Holmes County, to Martha F. Fen- nig, born in Germany, and who came to America when four years old with her parents who located in Ashland County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kettering lived a number of years in Holmes County, their four oldest children being born in that county. He moved to Mercer County in 1835 and located on a farm of 80 acres in Washington township, which is now owned by our subject and is occupied by Benjamin Powell, a nephew of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Kettering was one of the most promiennt men in Washington township and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1871 at the age of 58 years, he was the owner of 193 acres of land, and had considerable other property beside. His wife died February 1, 1902, aged 77 years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kettering, as follows: Henry, John, Caroline, Sarah, Jacob, George, Mary, Philip and Margaret. Henry came to Mercer County with his parents when about nine years of age, was reared in Washington township and lived here until March 1, 1906, when he sold the home farm which he then owned to his brother George, and moved to Nebraska. He divided 160 acres among his children and still owns 120 acres of land in Washington town- ship. John resides in Black Creek township. Caroline is the widow of Henry Bobenmoyer, of Washington township. Sarah married John Smoyer of
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Washington township, who was killed in an oil-well explosion on his own farm. Jacob resides in Washington township. Mary married Jacob Becher, of Black Creek township. Philip died aged one year and seven days. Mar- garet married Peter W. Wright and died at the age of 26 years.
George Kettering was reared in Washington township and has spent his whole life in Mercer County with the exception of the time he has spent in traveling. In 1895, wishing to see the country where his father was born, Mr. Kettering took a trip to Europe, visiting France, Germany, Holland and many other countries. He is also interested in his own country and has visited Cali- fornia on two different occasions.
GEORGE W. SMITH
GEORGE W. SMITH, a representative agriculturist of Liberty township, whose excellent farm of 120 acres is situated in section 13, was born January 14, 1863, in Liberty township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of George and Gertrude Wappas Smith.
The parents of Mr. Smith were natives of Germany. The father was a boy of 12 years when he accompanied his parents to America. The family lived for a time in Pennsylvania and then came to Mercer County, Ohio, and settled on a wild tract of land in section 24, Liberty township. They were compelled to endure many hardships for the first few years, as were all the pioneers, but in spite of them the family flourished, increased in numbers and substance and now the Smith family of Liberty township, founded by our sub- ject's grandfather, John Smith, is one of the representative ones of this locality. George Smith died June 3, 1901. He was one of the leading members of the Evangelical Association. His wife passed away November 16, 1890. Both were widely known and highly esteemed.
George W. Smith was reared in Liberty township and was educated in the district schools. A long and intimate familiarity with all kinds of farm work has made of Mr. Smith a very competent farmer and his well-tilled land and the evidences of its productiveness seen on every hand mark him as a thoroughgoing agriculturist. Of his present farm, 40 acres were formerly included in the old homestead.
Mr. Smith was married to Lydia C. Smith, a daughter of George Smith, of Hopewell township, and they have two children-Mervin and Ruth M.
Although Mr. Smith is identified with the Republican party, he has his own ideas and claims the right sometimes to vote independently. He has al- ways been a man of prominence in his township and has served at various times as school director of Dist. No. 6. He belongs to the Evangelical Association.
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FRANK BERNARD ROMER
FRANK BERNARD ROMER, the owner of an excellent farm of 80 acres in section 26, Granville township, which is watered by the Wabash River, is one of the representative men of his locality and belongs to one of the oldest and most prominent families of the county. He was born December 6, 1874, at St. Henry, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Bernard Frank and Mary Anna (Beckman) Romer.
Bernard Frank Romer, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, accompanied his brother Henry from Germany and the latter entered the land and laid out the town of St. Henry. The great-grandfather had died in Germany, but our subject's great-grandmother and the following children made up the first party of settlers of this name: Henry, Bernard Frank (the grandfather of our sub- ject ), Herman (1), Herman (2), Fred, Agnes (wife of Henry Hemmelgarn, deceased, at Cincinnati), and Frank. Three of the sons came to the vicinity of St. Henry, but the rest of the family remained at Cincinnati. The mother subsequently came to Minster, Auglaize County, Ohio, to visit her children, and died there in 1849. Other members of the family joined the first settlers at St. Henry. They possessed little means and walked the most of the way through the woods to this point. They worked on the canal and proved indus- trious, reliable people. Their log cabin in the woods was erected by combined effort in one day, and in the hastily constructed home seven families spent their first winter. All the brothers died in Mercer County, except Frank, Fred and Herman:
Bernard Frank Romer, Sr., was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Agnes Gravenkamp, who came from the same part of Germany as did his own family. Their children were: Elizabeth, the first white child born at St. Henry, who is the widow of Fred Athmer; Agnes, who married Clemmens Meinerding- both now deceased; Bernardina, who married Henry Lennartz-both now de- ceased; Catherine, who married John Beckman; Mary (widow of Dr. Myers), residing in Florida; Anna, (widow of Henry Doess), living at St. Henry ; and Bernard Frank, the only son. The father of this family died in September, 1879, but the mother survived until February 14, 1901.
Bernard Frank Romer, father of our subject, one of the best known citi- zens of St. Henry, was born here on February 25, 1846. The whole period of his attendance at school was covered by 30 days, but he made the most of his limited opportunities. He early developed business ability and was but 12 years of age when he began to buy and sell as well as trade horses, and it was remarkable how seldom he made a bad bargain. When he was 14 years old he bought his first farm, purchasing it from Jacob Ullerman, at St. Peter, in Recovery township, and with this tract as a beginning he has continued to add
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acre after acre until he now owns 400 acres in Mercer County and a large body of land in Scioto County. In addition he is interested in the lumber business at Celina, St. Henry and Mendon, and is the controller of a large amount of capital. Politically he has always been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, but he has never sought office. Mr. Romer is one of the leading mem- bers of St. Henry's Catholic Church at St. Henry, which his family was in- strumental in founding. He assisted in building the present beautiful church edifice.
On October 15, 1868, Mr. Romer was married to Mary Anna Beckman, who died March 18, 1902. She was a daughter of the late Henry A. Beck- man, who was an early settler in this vicinity, a well-known practitioner of law and for a number of years a justice of the peace. The eight children born to Bernard Frank Romer, Jr., and wife were as follows: Rebecca Ann, who is the wife of Henry Winkeljohan, of Celina; Agnes, who is the wife of Benjamin Riling, of St. Henry; Emma, who married Joseph Moeller and lives at St. Henry; Frank Bernard, who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Ferdi- nand, who married Carrie Kreusch and lives at Cambridge City, Indiana ; Al- bert, who married Mary Schunck and lives at Celina ; Lillian, a very estimable lady, who keeps house for her father; and a son, who died January 7, 1879, aged six months.
Frank Bernard Romer, Jr., laid out the town of Burkettsville, 1871. He also presented to Rev. John Van den Broek, C. PP. S., two acres of land and was one of a committee of eight good Catholics who organized St. Bernard's Church there. He erected his own commodious residence at St. Henry in 1884-85, a large brick structure of 12 rooms, where he now lives practically retired, although it is doubtful if anyone with so active a mind and so many important interests still concerning him will ever entirely lay aside business affairs.
Frank Bernard Romer was reared at St. Henry. He enjoyed better educational advantages than did his father, for after he had completed the course of instruction in the schools of St. Henry, he went to Dayton and fin- ished at St. Mary's Institute there. He continued to reside at home until his marriage and during the first year following it he lived at St. Henry, in the meantime working one of his father's farms. In 1899 he located on his pres- ent farm, which he obtained from his father, and moved into the log house which was then standing. Mr. and Mrs. Romer continued to live in that house until the completion, in 1902, of his handsome new residence, of nine rooms, which is a very fine home and is fitted with many modern conveniences. In 1901 Mr. Romer completed his substantial barn, also of modern con- struction. He has made many other excellent improvements, has cleared his land and has put it under a fine state of cultivation." He carries on general
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farming, after the most approved methods, raises some stock and in every way may be termed a representative agriculturist of his section.
On October 4, 1898, Mr. Romer was united in marriage with Anna M. Moeller, who was born November 23, 1875, and is a daughter of Gerhard Henry and Mary (Lang) Moeller. The father of Mrs. Romer was born at St. Johns, near Maria Stein, and was a son of Joseph Moeller, who was one of the first settlers at that place. Joseph Moeller and wife came to Ohio from Germany and they had the following children : Gerhard Henry, father of Mrs. Romer; Anthony, who died young; Anna, who married Joseph Bruns; John, deceased at 21 years; Mary, wife of Frank Bruns; Frances, who married (first) Frank Feldhake and (second) Anthony Sherman; and Joseph.
The children of Gerhard Henry and Mary (Lang) Moeller were : Amelia, who married William Henry Romer; Joseph, who married Emma Romer; Anna M., who is the wife of our subject ; Louis, who married Rose Vand der Bosch; Pauline, deceased in the spring of 1905, who was the wife of George Bruns; Rose, who married Joseph Macke, Jr .; Francis; Leo; Adolph, de- ceased; and Ferdinand. Mr. and Mrs. Moeller live retired at St. Henry.
Mr. and Mrs. Romer have four children, namely : Florence, born August 21, 1899; Alphonse, born December 19, 1901; Ruth, born March 12, 1904; and Mildred, born September 6, 1906. This family, like all of the name, are devoted members of the Catholic Church.
REV. JOSEPH HEITZ, C. PP. S.
REV. JOSEPH HEITZ, C. PP. S., rector of the Novitiate of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, situated near Burkettsville, in Granville township, was born June 9, 1854, on a farm in Huron County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Frances (Meng) Heitz, who were natives of Germany.
Joseph Heitz was the oldest of a family of three children. He first at- tended school at the district school near his father's home. He then went to a Catholic school at Bismarck, Huron County, Ohio, and then entered St. Jo- seph's College in Illinois, where he took a preparatory course for two years, after which he entered St. Charles Seminary, at Carthegena, taking a nine years' course. He was ordained a priest in 1881, after which he went to Fort Recovery, where he had his first church, also having charge of the churches at Wendelin and Sharpsburg. After remaining there for about 11 months, he went to Glandorf, Putnam County, Ohio, where he became an assistant priest. His next call was to Big Spring, Seneca County, Ohio, where he had charge of St. Peter's parish for 18 months, returning then to Fort Rocovery to take charge of the church there a second time. He afterwards located at Law-
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renceburg, Tennessee, and had charge of a number of missions, including Franklin, Pulaski and Columbia. He was at Lawrenceburg two years and one year at Nashville. From Nashville he went to New York City, where he became chaplain at St. Joseph's Hospital, after which he returned to Cold- water, Mercer County, and had charge of Holy Trinity Church for one year. Since 1890 he has been rector of the Novitiate of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, which is situated one mile and a half northeast of Burketts- ville. Father Heitz is a member of the congregation of the Most Precious Blood.
JOHN SCHINDLER
JOHN SCHINDLER, who has been prominent in the affairs of Fort Re- covery for many years, both as a business man and public citizen, owns a large establishment where blacksmith work and the manufacturing of wagons and buggies is carried on. He was born at Hecklengen, Germany, in 1849, and is a son of Constantine and Julia (Beha) Schindler.
Constantine Schindler was born in Germany and was a substantial citizen for many years. He was the youngest of four children, the others being: Carl, who came to America, in 1830, settling at Wolf Creek, in Seneca County, where he married (first) a Miss Ferenbach, and, after her death, Ursula Hoepf, dying in 1901 ; Catherine, who married Robert Burkhart-both died in Germany; and Theresa, who married Ferdinand Schindler-both died in Germany.
The parents of our subject spent their lives in Germany. The father engaged in farming and also entered into political life and was made one of the burgomasters of his town, which is an important one in Baden. He lived to be 70 years of age and his wife survived to the same age. They were both most worthy members of the Catholic Church. They had seven children, namely : William, Albert, Hugo, John, Mary, Julia and Theresa. William, who died in 1881, at Coldwater, Ohio, married Margaret Umlor, who was born on a farm near Fostoria, Ohio. Albert, who died in Germany in 1901, was married in his native land and always lived there. He was in the German Army and served in the war between Austria and Prussia, in 1866, and in the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71, and on account of being shot eight times drew a large pension. Hugo, the third son, still lives with his family, on the old home farm in Germany. Mary married and died in Germany. Julia is the widow of Captain Arnold Fritsch, who died in the city of Offenburg, where he was postoffice inspector. Theresa is the wife of Ferdinand Feltman, who is a railroad official at Kensington, Germany.
John Schindler, our subject, is the youngest son in his parents' family.
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He was educated in his native town and when 16 years of age started to learn the blacksmith's trade with an old, experienced workman, by the name of Carl Hütz, who had a shop and forge in the neighborhood. The youth remained with Mr. Hütz for about 18 months and then decided to try his fortune in America. In October, 1867, he landed at Castle Garden, New York, and passed two lonely weeks in the great metropolis before he found work at Toledo, Ohio. Four weeks later he went to Frankfort, which was then called Six Mile Woods, where he joined his brother William, who had a blacksmith shop there, remaining with him for the following year. Then he went to Fos- toria and completed his trade with John Audis of that place. From Fostoria, Mr. Schindler, now an expert workman, went to Tiffin, then to Upper San- dusky, and still later to Little Sandusky, to Marion and then to Sandusky, working at his trade at every point. In order to see something of the country, Mr. Schindler then went to Michigan and located for a time at Adrian.
In the meantime Mr. Schindler's brother William had sold out his shop at Six Mile Woods and had established a big concern at Coldwater, Mercer Coun- ty, Ohio, and in 1872 our subject returned to Ohio and resumed work with his brother. In the following year he was married. He then moved to Ber- wick, Ohio, where he remained one year, returning then to his brother's shop at Coldwater, this time remaining with him one year. At this time Monterey, in Mercer County, was attracting attention and the prospects seemed good for its becoming a prosperous place, as it was thought that the railroad would pass through it. Mr. Schindler located here and established a shop, which he con- ducted until the fall of 1877, by which time the tide of business was flowing in the direction of Fort Recovery. After selling his Monterey shop, he estab- lished his present business where he has remained ever since. In 1877 he bought his shop property and in the following year he built his com- fortable residence in close vicinity and there lived until 1886, when he pur- chased his present beautiful home. It is a large, eight-room house, which stood on the property when he bought it, but he has so improved it that it looks like another place. The residence is situated on Boundary street, where he has three town lots. On the opposite side of the street, Mr. Schindler owns five other lots and he also has 21 acres of valuable farming land near the cor- poration limits. He is considered one of the substantial as well as prominent and representative men of Fort Recovery.
On April 29, 1873, Mr. Schindler was married, at St. Peter, Mercer County, Ohio, to Mary Anna Roesner, who was born on a farm near St. Peter, May 30, 1852. They have had 12 children, as follows: John, who married Lula Riegel and lives at Fort Recovery; Theresa, residing at Fort Recovery, who married Fred Boesche and has one child, John F .; Julia, living at Ander- son, Indiana, who married Joseph Lennartz and has three children-Clemence,
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Lionel and Pauline; and Rose, Dora, Clara, Ferdinand, Hugo, Herbert, Ella, Margaret and Rudolph (deceased).
Jacob Roesner, father of Mrs. Schindler, came to America from Bavaria, Germany, and was married at Somerset, Perry County, Ohio, to Mary Bu- schor, who had come to America from Elsass, Germany, with her parents, when eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Roesner settled on a farm near St. Peter, Mercer County, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They had six children, as follows: Michael, who married Margaret Cerber and lives at Fort Recovery; Daniel, who married Mary Ann Studer and lives at Celina; David, who married Mary Mader and lives at Celina; Mary Anna, who is the wife of Mr. Schindler ; Lena, who married Benjamin Fallert and lives at Santa Ana, California ; and Jacob, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Roesner were devoted members of the Catholic Church.
In politics Mr. Schindler is a stanch Democrat, and on numerous oc- casions he has been elected to important offices by his party. He is at present serving as infirmary director, and during the second administration of Presi- dent Cleveland was postmaster at Fort Recovery. For a number of terms he was township treasurer and for 20 years was a member of the Village Council, serving 16 of these in succession. He has always been looked upon as one of the town's most representative, public-spirited men.
Perhaps there is no more widely traveled individual in the county than Mr. Schindler. Since his marriage he has visited the following States: New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Ne- braska, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Colorado. In Southern Tennessee, in Lawrence County,he invested in some fine farming lands. He has also visited Canada and on May 27, 1900, he started for Europe. On reaching Paris he spent 10 days in viewing the wonders of the great exposition, then proceeded to Strasburg, crossed the storied Rhine, went then to Offenburg and found a hearty welcome from his sister Julia. He then visited his native place where his sister Theresa still resides and then went to Basel, Switzerland, and while there joined with 500 other good Americans in celebrating the Fourth of July. After this delightful vacation, Mr. Schindler reached home in October.
JOSEPH WINHOVEN :
JOSEPH WINHOVEN, a prosperous farmer of Granville township, residing on a farm of 160 acres, located in section 33, was born near Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio, September 29, 1868, and is a son of Martin and Dora (Hau- man) Winhoven.
Martin Winhoven was born in Perizes, Germany, May 15, 1808, and
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lived there until he was 47 years old. He was married four times, his fourth wife, Dora Hauman, being the mother of our subject. His first wife lived but a short time after their marriage. His second marriage resulted in the birth of four children, whose names are as follows: Henry, who is married and lives near Toledo, Ohio; Peter, deceased; Anna, who married Henry Keuter and lives in Egypt, Ohio; and Catherine, who married John Rising and lives at Minster, Ohio. After the death of his second wife, he married again and, his third wife dying soon after, he was united in marriage the fourth time, with Dora Hauman, who was born in Perizes, Germany, December 1, 1829. After the birth of their first two children, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Winhoven came to America, in March, 1855, proceeding to Mercer County and first settling at St. Johns. Not long afterward they removed to Egypt, Ohio, where they raised five more children. Upon locating there, he bought a farm of 40 acres, half a mile east of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, upon which he lived for many years. He finally sold this farm in 1877 and moved to Mercer County where he bought, of Frank Bachman, an 80-acre tract of land, located two miles north- west of Burkettsville, which is the farm that our subject now owns. Only 14 acres of this property were cleared and under cultivation, the remainder being in timber. He had a log house built which cost him $110; before its com- pletion he was obliged to move into it, when it was necessary to use blankets in place of windows and doors. On this farm Mr. Winhoven lived the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring in October, 1897, at the age of 89 years. His widow is still living and resides on a farm in Granville township near that of her son, the subject of this sketch. Seven children were born to Martin and Dora (Hauman) Winhoven, as follows: Conrad, deceased; Anna Mary, who died in childhood; Caroline, who married Henry Brinkman and lives in Granville township; Antony; Catherine, who married Wendel Fink and resides in Dexter, Missouri; Joseph, the subject of this sketch; and Frank, a resident of Mercer County, who first married Theresa Havermeyer and after her death married Ella Tray.
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