USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 54
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Mr. and Mrs. Yaney had three sons and six daughters born to them, all of whom survive except Clifton Earl. The others are: Nevada, who married John E. Bright, lives near Dayton and has one child; Orla, who lives at home; Hester Estella, who married John Plummer, lives in Wash- ington township and has twin children; and Floyd Monroe, Martha Ann, Lucretia Velma, Mildred Cleo and Stanley Gladstone, all residing at home.
Mr. Yaney inherited 40 acres of land from his mother and in 1885 he purchased 45 acres more. He has improved this property, which is con- sidered one of the best in Butler township. In 1884 he built a commodious frame house and added other substantial buildings. The great barn was completed in 1904. The farm bears the pleasant name of the "Clover Leaf Farm," and here Mr. Yaney carries on general farming, does some dairying and produces fine live-stock.
For a number of years Mr. Yaney has been one of the leading members of the Radical United Brethren Church, in which he is a class leader and a trustee. He is a man, who on account of the uprightness of his character stands very high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.
JOHN F. FRAHM
JOHN F. FRAHM, clerk of the Board of Education of Hopewell town- ship, is one of the representative men of this section of Mercer County. He resides on his well-improved farm of 80 acres in section 15. Mr. Frahm belongs to one of the old pioneer families of the township, in which he was born October 7, 1860, and is a son of John H. and Sophia (Smith) Frahm, natives of Germany.
The parents of our subject emigrated to America and settled in Hope- well township, Mercer County, about 1852. John H. Frahm was a man
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of more than usual good judgment and in the course of time he became a very useful and prominent citizen of Mercer County. He served as trustee of Hopewell township and for six years was a member of the Board of County Commissioners. His political views made him a Democrat and he was an active party worker. His death occurred in April, 1899. He was a worthy member and liberal supporter of the Lutheran Church. His seven surviving children are: Minnie, wife of John Hoenie, of Hopewell town- ship; August, of Hopewell township; John F., of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Brasch, of Tipton, Indiana; Frederica, widow of Frederick Rahn, now residing at Celina; Charles, of Hopewell township; and Anna, wife of John Luth, of Dublin township.
John F. Frahm was reared in Hopewell township and was thoroughly trained in agricultural pursuits. He was educated in the public schools, in which he has always taken a great interest and, as noted above, is now serv- ing as clerk of the Board of Education. The schools of Hopewell township have an enviable reputation for their efficiency. Previous to taking this position, he served four years as township clerk. Mr. Frahm carries on general farming and is considered one of the leading agriculturists of his locality.
Mr. Frahm was united in marriage with Louisa Sielschott, who was born in Hopewell township, Mercer County, and is a daughter of G. W. Sielschott. Mr. and Mrs. Frahm have six children, namely: Clarence W., Otto B., Hilda B., Edgar J., Harold and an infant son.
Politically Mr. Frahm is identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and is serving as one of the deacons of the church in Hopewell township.
JACOB BECHER
JACOB BECHER, who is engaged in farming in Black Creek township, has resided here since 1882 on his present valuable farm of 80 acres, near Chattanooga. He was born in Liberty township, Mercer County, Ohio, May 8, 1859, and is a son of John and Anna Maria ( Baker) Becher.
The parents of Mr. Becher had a large family, of whom the eight sur- vivors are as follows: Sophia, wife of Jacob B. German, of Van Wert County, Ohio; Mary, wife of Frederick Dasher, of Van Wert, Ohio; Jacob, of this sketch; Louisa, wife of Philip W. Deitsch, of Celina; John F. and George W., both of Liberty township; Matilda B., wife of John Gribler, of Van Wert; and William of Liberty township. Catherine and Henry are deceased.
The father of our subject was born in Germany and the mother in
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GUSTAV DAMMEYER
JULIUS DAMMEYER
THEODORE DAMMEYER
RESIDENCE AND BARN OF HENRY FRED DAMMEYER
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Pennsylvania. The former died July 25, 1883, but the latter still survives and resides with her affectionate children in Liberty township. John Becher was a boy when he came to America with his parents. His father, Frederick Becher, settled in what was then a wilderness in Black Creek township, Mer- cer County. The grandfather and father of Jacob Becher were pioneer set- tlers who proved their worth by clearing their lands, cultivating them thor- oughly and assisting in all the civilizing movements of their day. The township lost men of high character when Frederick and John Becher passed away. They were Lutherans in religion and Democrats in politics.
Jacob Becher was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools. His training was all along agricultural lines and he has been familiar with farming in all its details since boyhood. He has resided on his present farm since 1882, as noted above, and in the quarter century which has elapsed has become identified with all the educational and public inter- ests of this neighborhood. He is numbered with the good farmers of this township.
On October 12, 1882, Mr. Becher was married to Mary Kettering, who was born in Washington township, Mercer County, Ohio, and they have nine children, as follows: John Henry Frederick, Caroline Alminnie Anna, George Jacob Edward, Ida Fredericka Catherine and Iva Mary Margaret (twins), Sarah Ella Jane, James William Theobald, Clarence Oliver Ray- mond and Samuel Oscar Leroy. Mr. Becher and family belong to the Luth- eran Church. Politically he is a Democrat.
HENRY FRED DAMMEYER
HENRY FRED DAMMEYER, who owns a fine farm of 121 acres situated in section 25, Franklin township, was born September 17, 1840, at New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Meyer) Dam- meyer.
Henry Dammeyer and his wife, both of whom were natives of Germany, came to this country and settled in Auglaize County, Ohio, where they pur- chased a farm of 40 acres near New Bremen. Mr. Dammeyer's brother Chris- topher came to America with him and died shortly afterwards. Henry Dam- meyer was the father of two children: Sophia, who married Fred Frey and lives in Hillsboro, Illinois; and Henry Fred, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Dammeyer died near New Bremen at the age of 62 years. After his death his wife sold the farm and with the family moved to Franklin township, set- tling on a farm which her son, Henry Fred Dammeyer, bought from Morris
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Kelly, where Gustav Dammeyer, our subject's son, now lives. Mrs. Dam- meyer died on the farm in 1888 at the age of 82 years.
Henry Fred Dammeyer was reared on his father's farm and has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he continued to live on the farm purchased from Morris Kelly. Finally he sold this farm to his son Gustav, and in 1892 bought his present farm, which was the Myles Lane farm. Mr. Dammeyer has one of the most highly developed farms in Franklin township; the beautiful hedge fence, on each side of the driveway leading to the house, adds much to the attractiveness of the place.
Mr. Dammeyer was married January 24, 1867, to Auguste Thieman, a daughter of Harmon H. and Margaret (Stapelberg) Thieman, natives of Germany. Upon coming to this country, Mr. and Mrs. Thieman located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained for two years, and then moved to New Bremen. They were the parents of four children : Frank; Christopher ; Gus- tav; and Auguste. Mrs. Dammeyer was born in Germany, November 16, 1850, and was two years old when the family came to the United States. She was reared and educated at New Bremen, Ohio. Her father died in 1855, and her mother, August 31, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Dammeyer have had II chil- dren, namely : Julius, who married Rosina Tontrup, and has three children; Gustav, who married Christina Rump and has five children; Theodore, who married Lora Huenke and has three children; Edward, who died at the age of 23 years ; William, who married Ida Kammon, and has one child; Amanda, who married Leo Huenke and has one child; Levi; Otto; Adelia; Oscar and Frieda. Mr. Dammeyer and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church at New Bremen.
Portraits of Julius, Gustav and Theodore Dammeyer and views of the residence and barn of Henry Fred Dammeyer accompany this sketch.
JOHN F. ROECKNER
JOHN F. ROECKNER, one of the substantial farmers of Marion town- ship, who resides on his 100-acre farm in section 13, was born February 29, 1860, and is a son of William and Bernardina (Clune) Roeckner. -
William Roeckner was born in Hanover, Germany, one of a large family of children, but he and one brother were the only ones to come to this country, the latter probably locating in Illinois. William Roeckner first settled at Cincinnati, where he worked for a time, subsequently moving to Berlin, Ohio, where he and a Mr. Dreesman contracted to complete a part of the canal. A few years later he moved to Mercer County and was married to Bernardina Clune, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Arnold Clune.
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Arnold Clune came from Hanover, Germany, to this country and settled in Mercer County, where he bought land from the government about 80 years ago. He was one of the first settlers of Mercer County, when his family was one of the six or eight families in this section. He purchased the land now owned by John F. Roeckner about 1828, and five years later his three chil- dren followed him to America, their mother having died some years pre- viously. The children were as follows: Gerhard, Maximilian and Bernar- dina.
After his marriage, William Roeckner bought from his father-in-law the farm which the latter had secured from the Government, and later bought 120 acres more in the same township. A family of 10 children were born to William and Bernardina (Clune) Roeckner: Mary, who married Casper Desch-both now deceased; Joseph, who lives at Coldwater; Catherine, who . - died aged 18 years; John; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Knapke and lives at Sidney, Ohio; Frances, who married John Buehler and lives at McCarty- ville, Ohio; Margaret, deceased in infancy; William, who married (first) Philomena Desch and (second) Catherine Gerlach and died in 1901; and Fred and a babe, both deceased in infancy. William Roeckner died in March, 1876, and his wife, in April, 190I.
John Roeckner was born and reared on his present farm. His father died when he was 16 years old and he was obliged to assist his mother in supporting the family. He was married in 1890 to Elizabeth Hinders, a daughter of Gerhard and Maria (Haggerman) Hinders, and a sister of Joseph Hinders, who was recently sheriff of Mercer County. Seven chil- dren were born to this marriage: Leona, Odilia, Agatha, William, Werner, Otto and Rose Mary, all of whom are living at home. Mr. Roeckner was one of the petitioners for the Roeckner pike, which was named after him and of which he is now superintendent. His brother William was township treasurer and when he died the position was offered to Mr. Roeckner, which, however, he refused. Mr. Roeckner and family are members of the Catholic Church.
JOHN J. KNAPKE
JOHN J. KNAPKE, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Jefferson township, owns a fine farm of 80 acres, 70 of which is in section 35, and 10 in section 34, township 5 south, range 2 east. He was born in Hopewell township, Mercer County, Ohio, one mile north of his present home, Feb- ruary 26, 1877. He is a son of Henry and Mary (Bertke) Knapke.
The parents of Henry Knapke were born in Germany and both died in Mercer County. Henry was born at Maria Stein, this county, and grew up
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in the vicinity of that place, an orphan and a poor boy who had to make his own way in the world. That he succeeded was shown when he owned enough land to give his three sons farms of 80 acres each, and still retain 112 acres. He married Mary Bertke and their children were: Henry, died in infancy; Kate, who married Joseph Ineichen and resides in Jefferson township; Mary, who married John Puthoff and lives in Jefferson township; Annie, who mar- ried Basil Halsma and lives in Oklahoma; John J. and Benjamin (twins), the latter dying in infancy ; and Joseph, Agnes, Augustus and Carrie, who live on the home farm. Henry Knapke died September 23, 1906, aged 59 years.
John J. Knapke was reared in Hopewell township and was educated in the district schools. On March 2, 1900, he married Lizzie Bruns, a daughter of Augustus Bruns, of Mercer County. They have had two children, Edith and Irvin, the latter of whom died September 17, 1906.
After his marriage, Mr. Knapke settled on the 80-acre farm which had been given him by his father, but in May, 1906, he sold that property and moved to the present farm, which he bought from his brother-in-law. He carries on general farming operations, raises some stock and has a fine dairy.
Mr. Knapke is a member of the Catholic Church. For many years he has been a member of the German Independent Aid Society. In his neigh- borhood he is counted among the reliable, honorable men of the community.
JOHN BRACKMAN
JOHN BRACKMAN, who has lived all of his life on his present farm of 1 39 acres, situated in section 2, Marion township, was born March, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Tiesem) Brackman.
John Brackman and his wife, who were both of German birth, came to this country from Hanover, Germany, locating for a short time in the South. They also lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a short time, after which they came to Mercer County, Ohio, among the early settlers, and purchased 60 acres of land from the government at $1.50 an acre. At that time the United States Land Office was at Lima and the deed was signed by President Martin Van Buren. Afterwards 79 acres more were purchased from the government at $2.00 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Brackman only had one child, John, the subject of this sketch. . Mrs. Brackman died about 1851 and her husband died six years later.
John Brackman, the subject of this sketch, lived until 12 years of age with his parents. At that time his father died, leaving him the farm of 139 acres. Mr. Sherman was appointed guardian, but died shortly after. Our subject worked around on different farms for a time and also spent some time
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in Cincinnati. When 21 years of age he came into possession of his property. The country at that time was still chiefly timberland. The Cincinnati, Hamil- ton & Dayton Railway runs through his property now.
Mr. Brackman was married in 1866 to Caroline Overman, a daughter of Henry and Agnes (Bockman) Overman. Henry Overman and his wife came from Germany to this country, and were married at Cincinnati, Ohio. They had 10 children: Mary, who married Henry Reichert; Henry, de- ceased ; Barney ; Fred, deceased; Anthony; Agnes, deceased, who was the wife of Benjamin Miller; Elizabeth, who married Henry Gottemoller; John; Joseph, deceased; and Caroline, the wife of our subject, who was born May 5, 1847, in Marion township, Mercer County, Ohio. Mr. Overman died March 8, 1876. His wife died May 5, 1904.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brackman, as follows: Agnes, who married August Rutchilling, and after his death Joseph Winners and lives in Berlin, Shelby County-she had one child by her first marriage, Henry, and has two children by her second marriage, Leona and Alexander ; Henry, who married Anna Lubke, lives near his father and has one child, William ; Elizabeth, who married Henry Bruns, lives in Marion township and has four children-Caroline, Anna, Laura and Clara ; John; Clara; Catherine; Frank; Vincent ; Amy; and Anthony, who died when an infant. Mr. Brackman and his family are members of St. John's Catholic Church. He served two terms as township trustee.
MICHAEL REUSCH
MICHAEL REUSCH, a well-known citizen and excellent farmer of Jeffer- son township, residing on a farm of 80 acres located in section 33, township 5 south, range 2 east, was born in Germany, September 6, 1860, and is a son of Gottfried and Maria (Saltzer) Reusch.
Michael Reusch was reared and educated in Germany and worked at farming and wine making until 21 years of age, when he came to America and located at Celina, Ohio, where his brother Christopher had located three years previously. He secured employment on a dairy farm and remained there the following 22 months. On September 1, 1888, he was appoined superintendent of the County Infirmary, where he had previously been working. He con- tinued to fill that office for the next 15 years, and during that time made many needed changes, which benefited the inmates. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Reusch purchased his present home, where he has made many decided im- provements.
On September 6, 1888, Michael Reusch was married (first) to Elizabeth Puthoff, a daughter of Frank Puthoff. She died June 5, 1897, leaving three
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children : Harry, Lizzie and Bertha. Mr. Reusch was married (second), August 24, 1898, to Paulina Dosten, a daughter of August Dosten and by his marriage has two children, Pauline and Freda. Mr. Reusch is a member of the German Independent Aid Society.
BERNARD HUELSKAMP
BERNARD HUELSKAMP, who resides on his farm of 120 acres, located in section 25, Marion township, was born June 24, 1870, and is a son of Deit- rich and Elizabeth (Tangeman) Huelskamp and a grandson of Henry Huels- kamp.
Henry Huelskamp, who was a native of Germany, came to this country in 1835 and settled in Mercer County, Ohio, dying after three years' resi-) dence in this country. He was the father of four children, all born in Germany, as follows : Henry (deceased) Deitrich, Joseph and Bernardina.
Deitrich Huelskamp was born June. 24, 1822, and came to America with his father when 13 years old. When about 16 years old, his father died and, being the oldest child, he was obliged to support the family. He was married to Elizabeth Tangeman, who was born in Germany and came to America, with her parents when about six years old. Her parents, Henry and Anna (Moeller) Tangeman, came to this country from Germany and settled in Marion township on a farm near Maria Stein. Mr. and Mrs. Tangeman had the following children most of whom were born in Germany : Elizabeth, An- thony, Joseph, Fred, Barney, Henry, Catherine and Mary. After his mar- riage, Mr. Huelskamp continued to live on the home farm near Maria Stein, and there nine children were born, namely : Henry, who died aged four years; Mary, who married Henry Fullenkamp; Frank, deceased; John, who married Mary Heitkamp; Catherine, deceased, who married Peter Brown; Frances, who married Frank Dabelt; Anna, who lives with her father at Maria Stein ; Bernard; and Rosa, who died in infacy.
Bernard Huelskamp was born and reared on the farm where he now lives, which property he purchased from his father. He was married in 1894 toi Rosa Thobe, who was born December 10, 1876, and is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wormen) Thobe. Joseph Thobe was born and raised in Germany and came to America when a young man, settling in. Marion town- ship, Mercer County, Ohio. He married Elizabeth Wormen, a daughter of Henry Wormen, also a native of Germany, who emigrated to this country and died in Auglaize County, Ohio, having lived to be almost 100 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Thobe had 14 children as follows : Mary, who married S. Kem- per; Elizabeth, who married Joeseph Osterfeld; Anna, who married Joseph
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Westgerdes; Catherine, who married Anton Kemper; John, who married Rosa Vehorn; Rosa; Frances, who married Joseph Menke; Josephine, who married John Westgerdes; Anna, who married Barney Geyle; and Henry, Mary, Henry, Joseph and Maggie, who are deceased. Mr. Thobe died June 14, 1906. His wife is living in Auglaize County with her son John.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Huelskamp; namely: John, Joseph, Edward, Elizabeth, Loretta, Hilda and Leona. Mr. Huelskamp and family are all members of St. John's Catholic Church.
JOHN GEORGE KUHN
JOHN GEORGE KUHN, a highly esteemed citizen of Coldwater, who is almost entirely retired from active business, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 27, 1843, and is a son of John G. and Juliana (Schneider ) Kuhn.
The Kuhn family emigrated to America in 1847 and the father of our subject started farming on 120 acres of land near Wapakoneta, Ohio. As he was an invalid, the actual labor of the farm was performed by his two sons, with hired help. He died May 8, 1866, but his wife survived until July 12, 1894. Our subject grew up here, assisted in the farming and also learned the wagonmaker's trade.
Mr. Kuhn was not quite 18 years old when President Lincoln's first call went out over the country for troops and he enlisted in Company K, 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He was mustered into the service on April 26, 1861, served through the three months of his enlistment and was discharged on August 27, 1861. In 1862 he reenlisted for three years, entering Company D, 106th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. On March 1, 1863, he was made corporal ; on May 27, 1864, he was advanced to sergeant and was mustered out with his company on June 29, 1865, being finally discharged and paid on July 12th following.
Mr. Kuhn served first under General Buell, near Covington, Kentucky, and later marched 200 miles through that State and Tennessee, his command being much engaged in this vicinity during the early part of the war. On April 7, 1862, the whole brigade was captured by the enemy, at Hartsville, Tennessee, but soon escaped. During his service of three years he received two wounds in his left leg. During his last year of service, Sergeant Kuhn was a scout.
After his return from the war, Mr. Kuhn settled in Auglaize County and went to work at wagon-making, soon entering the employ of Jacob Koch in this line at St. Marys. In December, 1865, he formed a partnership with Mr. Koch and the business was continued until February, 1867, when he sold out and moved to Chattanooga, Mercer County, where he conducted wagon works
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until January 1, 1869. During his stay there he bought a farm of 80 acres in Black Creek township, and after closing his business he moved upon the farm and operated it until the fall of 1875, when he sold out. He then moved to Decatur, Indiana, and in that vicinity he bought a farm of 80 acres, on which he resided until March 16, 1883. He then disposed of that property and re- moved to Butler township, Mercer County, buying another 80 acres. He moved on this farm and continued to reside on it until April 8, 1904, when he bought his home at Coldwater. The farm was sold in November, 1905.
On February 6, 1866, Mr. Kuhn was married (first) to Barbara Nuss, who died November 27, 1871, leaving three children, viz: William H., of Elyria, Ohio; Emma L., wife of Lasius Walters, of Coldwater; and Edward. On October 28, 1873, Mr. Kuhn was married (second) to Anna Mary Strau- binger, and they had seven children, namely : Frederick, of the State of Wash- ington ; Jacob, who died aged two weeks; Frank T., of Dayton; Anthony, of Middletown, Ohio; Michael, of Covington, Ohio; and Julia and Mary, living at home. Frederick and Anthony served in the Spanish-American War; after its conclusion, Frederick then entered the United States regular army and served in the artillery in the Philippines, receiving his discharge in 1902.
Mr. Kuhn has served the township in many responsible positions and has always been an official in whom his fellow-citizens placed every confidence. For 20 years he was a justice of the peace in Butler township, finally resigning the office ; for 12 years and five months he was township clerk of Butler town- ship and served also as trustee of Liberty township, Mercer County. Mr. Kuhn is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic organization. He is a member of the Catholic Church. With the exception of performing the duties of a notary public, Mr. Kuhn takes upon himself no business cares. He has a wide circle of friends by whom he is highly considered.
FREDERICK KUHN
FREDERICK KUHN, a highly esteemed resident of Celina, occupying a comfortable home on West Livingston near Mill street, has been a resident of Mercer County since 1847 and for over a half century was identified with the agricultural interests of Liberty township. Mr. Kuhn is also an honored sur- vivor of the great Civil War. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 28, 1829, and is a son of Henry and Margaret ( Bollenbacher) Kuhn.
In 1847 the Kuhn family left Germany and came directly to Mercer County, Ohio, settling in section 7, Liberty township. At that time pioneer conditions prevailed all through this locality, the native forest growth still stood where now are cultivated fields and thriving towns, and the family
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