USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 56
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James Pearson, our subject, was reared in Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained until 20 years of age, when he went to Philadelphia and worked at his trade, being a shoemaker. In 1865 he went to Illinois where he worked at his trade for about three years, after which he removed to Wabash County, Indiana, and followed his trade. During his residence in Wabash County, he made a trip to Washington township, Mercer County, Ohio, leaving on September 21, 1869, and while in Washington township was married to Lavina Bastian, a daughter of George Bastian. He moved to Mercer County in 1876, locating in Washington township, where he has since lived, engaged in general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have had eight children, as follows: Minnie, who married Elmer Day and has three children; Maggie, wife of W. J. Boley; Homer, who married Daisy Edmiston; Lee C .; Lizzie, who teaches school in Liberty township; Luella; Edith and Ivy.
Mr. Pearson is at present clerk of the School Board of Washington town- ship. In 1894 he retired from the office of justice of the peace, after having served 15 years.
E. H. DAVIS
E. H. DAVIS, a representative agriculturist of Liberty township, where he owns a farm of 65 acres in section 7, on which he located in the fall of
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1900, was born in Blackford County, Indiana, October 21, 1866, and is a son of Hugh and Charlotte (Robbins) Davis.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm in Blackford County. His parents were old residents there and their remains rest in that county. His education was obtained in the schools of Jackson township, Blackford County, where he engaged in farming until 1900, when he came to his present farm in Liberty township, Mercer County. His farm consists of 95 acres, as he owns a 30-acre tract in Adams County, Indiana, adjoining his 65 acres in Liberty township.
Mr. Davis was married (first) to Clara Fuqua, who was born in Black- ford County, Indiana. She was survived by three children, namely : Cecil and Esta, the latter of whom is the wife of Frederick Kessler of Blackford County ; and Clarence M., who died aged two months. Mr. Davis was mar- ried (second), December 19, 1900, to Mrs. Laura Gothrup, also of Blackford County, Indiana.
In 1903 the Darby Oil Company began operating for oil and gas on the farm of our subject, and both oil and gas have been found and further develop- ment will probably bring Mr. Davis very satisfying returns. Politically Mr. Davis is a Democrat.
GEORGE A. REUTER
GEORGE A. REUTER, sole owner and manager of the George A. Reuter sawmill and dealer in hardwood lumber at Fort Recovery, was born in Barry County, Michigan, February 18, 1861, and is a son of John G. and Mag- dalene (Schmelcher) Reuter, both of whom are still living on a farm in Barry County, Michigan.
George Reuter was reared on his father's farm in Barry County and attended the district schools, later attending a select school for several win- ters. He took a practical business course in the Grand Rapids Business Col- lege, his studies including banking, bookkeeping, steamboating, railroading and general commercial business, graduating in October, 1883. He taught school in Michigan for six years, beginning at the age of 16. His last school was taught during the winter of 1883-84 at Bowne Center, near Grand Rapids, Michigan. In May, 1884, he went to White Cloud, Michigan, and engaged with the Frederick Ramsey Lumber Company, remaining there until the fall of 1885. The last six months of this time he was employed by the successors of Mr. Ramsey, who had died. He then went to Chase, Michigan, and was employed by Dunham, Peters & Company. The first six months with this company he was foreman; he then became bookkeeper and the last year and a half was chief bookkeeper and general superintendent.
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In 1889 Mr. Reuter formed a partnership with William E. Wilson and engaged in the sawmill and pine lumber business at Fort Recovery, Ohio. This business was established on May Ist, but as Mr. Reuter was under obligations to his employers he stayed with the firm in Chase, Michigan, until they were able to secure a man to fill his position. In 1903 Messrs. Reuter and Wilson traded their circular sawmill, which stood where the Fort Recovery Lutheran Church now stands to Henry Wuerderman, for the band-mill which stood upon the site now occupied by Mr. Reuter's new mill. This band-mill burned down on June 12, 1906, and Mr. Reuter immediately erected a larger sawmill on the same site and installed new ma- chinery, having been sole owner and manager of the business since 1904, when he and Mr. Wilson dissolved partnership. Mr. Reuter also has other business interests, being one of the largest stockholders and a director of the Fort Recovery Telephone Company, which is owned by local capital. He owns 120 acres of farm land in Recovery township, about four and a half miles east of Fort Recovery. He owns the home farm of 160 acres in Ir- ving township, Barry County, Michigan, where his parents now reside.
Mr. Reuter was married in March, 1888, to Rose Wilson, a sister of his former business partner. They have had three children: Donnel, who is attending the Fort Recovery High School and will graduate in 1907-he attended the summer term at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1906 and thereby gained one year in the High School; Mildred M. and Marguerite.
Mr. Reuter has been secretary of the Fort Recovery Building and Loan Company for the past 16 years. He is a member and for the past three years has been chief of the Board of Deputy State Supervisors of Elections. He is a member and a trustee of Pisgah. Congregational Church, of Fort Recovery.
Mr. Reuter has been an active worker in the Masonic order. He is a member of Fort Recovery Lodge, No. 539, F. & A. M .; Celina Chapter, No. 120, R. A. M .; Lima Council, No. 20, R. & S. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 30. K. T., of Van Wert; and has attained to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite, belonging to the Consistory at Toledo. From 1894 to 1905, inclusive (12 years), he served as the worshipful master of Fort Recovery Lodge, declining reelection at the conclusion of his 12th term.
GEORGE W. KRENNING
GEORGE W. KRENNING, senior member of the firm of Krenning & Son, dealers in dry goods, boots, shoes and general merchandise, at Fort Recovery, is a well known citizen of Mercer County, and one of the leading business
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men at Fort Recovery. He was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 8, 1854, and is a son of J. H. W. and Anna M. (Kruse) Krenning.
The father of our subject was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to America in young manhood, settling at Cincinnati. There he married Anna M. Kruse and they had six children, namely: B. H. W., of Wytheville, Virginia; Louise, wife of Henry Bosse, of Norwood, a suburb of Cincinnati ; Henry R., of Cincinnati; George W., of this sketch; Amelia, wife of Henry Sunderman, of Fort Recovery; and Frederick, who died in infancy.
In 1860 the parents of our subject moved to a farm near Fort Recovery, but five years later returned to Cincinnati, coming back to Mercer County in 1869. For one year the family lived on a farm in Gibson township and then moved to Fort Recovery. There J. H. W. Krenning and his son, B. H. W. Krenning, started a store and woolen mill and this they continued to operate together until 1883, when the stock of store and mill was divided and the mill business was removed to Wytheville, Virginia. Our subject's father died in the fall of 1901.
George W. Krenning was six years old when the family moved first to Fort Recovery and was 15 when the permanent home was established here. His whole business life has been connected with this place.
In 1875 George W. Krenning was married to Harriet T. Campbell, a daughter of Isaac M. and Lydia A. (Hoar) Campbell, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Krenning have three children, viz .: Edna, Alice and George C. The older daughter, Edna, is a graduate of the Fort Recovery High School and Western Oxford College at Oxford, Ohio. For three years she has been a successful teacher at Elyria, Ohio, and is at present a student at Columbia University, New York City. Alice, the second daughter, is the wife of Rev. C. A. Mohr, pastor of the Congrega- tional Church at Silverton, Colorado. George C. is in business with his father, but at present is a student at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio.
Mr. Krenning has always performed the duties of a citizen, but has been too deeply immersed in business to take any very active part in politics. He has served efficiently, however, as a member of the School Board and has been town treasurer. Mr. Krenning and family are all members of the Pisgah Congregational Church at Fort Recovery.
WILLIAM JUSTIN ROETHER
WILLIAM JUSTIN ROETHER, a successful and well-known young agriculturist of Union township, was born in this township on the farm where his mother now lives, the old Roether farm, now known as the Be-
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dell farm. He is a son of John and Almira (Hamilton) Roether. A sketch of John Roether, who is now deceased, appears elsewhere in this book.
William Roether attended the township schools and also assisted with the farm work until he was 18 years old. He lived for several years in Cen- ter township and in the fall of 1899 moved upon the old Roether farm. Mr. Roether and his brother farmed this place in partnership until the fall of 1905. He now lives on the John Bedell farm in Union township. The farm con- sists of 80 acres and Mr. Roether has 32 acres of the same in corn, 15 acres in wheat, and 17 acres in oats. He has 93 head of hogs, and never sells his corn but keeps it for feed, considering it a better practice to use it for feed than to sell it. He also has three head of horses and is quite successful as a general farmer, having made what he has by his own energy and industry.
Mr. Roether married Cora Krugh, a daughter of John and Sallie Ann (Johnson) Krugh, of Union township. They have one daughter, who was born August 21, 1906. Politically, Mr. Roether is a Republican.
ANDREW BUEHLER
ANDREW BUEHLER, whose valuable farm of 120 acres is located in two counties, 80 acres in Darke and 40 acres, on which he makes his home. in Granville township, Mercer County, just across the road from the larger portion, was born in Marion township, Mercer County, Ohio, near Chicka- saw, and is a son of Raymond and Veronica (Cook) Buehler.
Raymond Buehler was born in Germany and came to America when he was about II years of age, accompanying his parents, August and Catherine Buehler. The family settled first at Greenville, Ohio, but later moved to a farm purchased by our subject's father, in Marion township. Subsequently they sold this farm to their son Raymond, and moved to Carthagena, where they died. They had eight children, namely: Raymond, Bernard, John, Joseph, Patrick, Agnes (wife of John Esser), Theresa (wife of John Blo- tur) and Sophia ( wife of Christian Voesey). All have died except Joseph.
Raymond Buehler remained with his parents until his marriage, assist- ing his father. Then he settled with his wife on the old home place, where Deitrich Buehler, our subject's brother, now lives. At that time little clear- ing had been done in his neighborhood and game was very abundant in the woods. Deer were plentiful and wild turkeys were to be had for the shoot- ing. Raymond Buehler remained on this farm, clearing it up and develop- ing it, until his death, which occurred January 6, 1880. He was survived by his wife until September 19, 1901.
Raymond Buehler married Veronica Cook, who had come to America
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with her parents from Germany. To this marriage 13 children were born, as follows: Theresa, who died aged five years; Elizabeth, who also died aged five years; Wendel and Joseph, both deceased in infancy; Mary, who married Joseph Hess; Caroline; Henry, who married Victoria Miller; An- drew, of this sketch; August, who married Theresa Brunswick; John, who married Frances Rockner; Deitrich, who married Mary Ausman; Veronica, who married Henry Wiel; and Catherine, deceased in 1905, who was the wife of Herman Box.
Andrew Buehler attended the district schools and remained at home assisting his father on the home farm. When his father died, he inherited 80 acres of land in Darke County and when he married he started in to live on his property. He built a log house there, in which he lived for about 20 years. On January 1, 1901, he purchased from his brother-in-law, Frank Rammel, the 40 acres on which is situated his home. As a house was on the place, the family moved into it immediately. Mr. Buehler has greatly im- proved the property and has remodeled and added to the house, which is a comfortable frame one of six rooms. He carries on general farming and has made a success of it.
On April 20, 1880, Mr. Buehler was married to Mary Rammel, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Mary (Ehrenbeck) Rammel, both of whom were born in Germany and became highly respected residents and substantial farming people of Mercer County. Mr. Rammel died on his farm in Gran- ville township, May 2, 1892, but Mrs. Rammel survives and lives with her son George.
Mr. and Mrs. Buehler have three children, namely: Joseph, born July 2, 1882; William, born October 27, 1883; and Elizabeth, born May 22, 1888. All reside at home and, with their parents, belong to St. Paul's Catholic Church at Sharpsburg.
ORVILLE S. ASHCRAFT
ORVILLE S. ASHCRAFT, a trustee of Washington township and one of the township's progressive citizens, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on a well-developed farm situated in section 23, was born in Jay County, Indiana, December 25, 1870, and is a son of Joseph and Julia Ann (Adney) Ashcraft.
Joseph Ashcraft was born on a farm in Jay County, Indiana, and is a son of Daniel Ashcraft, who was born and reared in Coshocton County, Ohio, whence he removed to Jay County, Indiana, when a young man. Joseph Ashcraft, who is now living in retirement, is the father of seven chil- dren : William, who is married and resides at Eaton, Indiana; John, who
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lives near Lansing, Michigan; Orville S., the subject of this sketch; Stella, who married Isaac Hassen and lives in North Dakota; Olive, wife of Henry Borrell, living in Chesterton, Indiana; Jennie, wife of Arthur Stout, living in Portland, Indiana; and Zelina, unmarried, who lives at home in Jay County, Indiana.
Orville S. Ashcraft was reared on his father's farm in Jay County, and has been engaged in farming all his life with the exception of four years, when he was a rig builder in the oil fields. The summer previous to his marriage, he worked in a large peach orchard on Catawba Island, Lake Erie. Since his marriage he has lived in Washington township, Mercer County, in 1900 moving upon his present farm, which is owned by his father-in-law, J. C. Snyder.
Mr. Ashcraft was married August 19, 1896, to Florence Snyder, a daughter of J. C. Snyder, a full sketch of whom will be found in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Ashcraft are the parents of three children: Forrest Merle; Tereva Eulali; and Elsia Winona. In politics Mr. Ashcraft is identified with the Democratic party and in the spring of 1902 was elected township trustee on the Democratic ticket. He is still serving in this office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Murphysburg, of which he is also a steward.
AUGUST ONTROP
AUGUST ONTROP, a prosperous farmer of Washington township resid- ing on his well-improved and highly cultivated farm of 216 acres, located in section 34, was born May 25, 1849, in Walstedde, Westphalia, Prussia, Germany, and is a son of Matthias and Christina (Kappenberg) Ontrop, both of whom died in Germany.
August Ontrop was the youngest of a family of eight children, and grew to manhood on his father's farm in Germany. At the age of 20 years he enlisted in the German Army and served two years and eight months in the Franco-Prussian War under General Werder, participating in the battles of Strasburg, Schledstadt and New Breisag, passing through all these en- gagements without receiving an injury. After the war he returned to his father's home, where he remained for about eight months, after which he emigrated to America, leaving his home April 16, 1873, and landed in New York City in the latter part of the same month. He immediately came to Mercer County, where he worked for two years on the farm which he now owns. His brother Anthony came to this country in 1874 and also came to Mercer County and located in Washington township with our subject. Anthony Ontrop married Theresia Tiggeman, who died in 1892; they had
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six children : August, deceased; Aloys, deceased; Henry; Stephen; Katie; and August M.
In 1875 August Ontrop and his brother Anthony bought the farm where they had been working and engaged extensively in agricultural opera- tions, carrying on mixed farming. Anthony Ontrop died September 17, 1905, and since his death our subject has been living on the farm with his niece and nephew. Mr. Ontrop has made the greater part of the improve- ments on the farm, erecting a large frame house and all the other buildings with the exception of the old barn, which was erected by the former owner and still stands.
Mr. Ontrop is a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Recovery township, four miles north of Fort Recovery ..
JOHN H. LAUDAHN
JOHN H. LAUDAHN, general merchant and prominent citizen at Hin- ton, and the owner of a good farm of 40 acres in Liberty township, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, April 28, 1867, and is a son of John and Sophia (Bader) Laudahn.
Our subject was 15 years of age when he accompanied his parents to Ohio. They resided in Auglaize County from 1872 until 1882, when they came to Mercer County and settled in Liberty township. The father died in 1893, but the mother still survives and resides with her son.
Prior to entering into his mercantile business at Hinton, Mr. Laudahn followed farming. This industry he still carries on in addition to his other business. For some years he was postmaster at this point. He conducts a general store and carries a sufficient stock to fill the demands of local trade.
In 1881, Mr. Laudahn was married to Salena Preshun, and they have five children, namely: Cora Sophia, Fred William, Frank H., Lesetta S. and John P. Politically Mr. Laudahn is a Republican. He belongs to the Lutheran Church.
JOSEPH WIRTZ
JOSEPH WIRTZ, who is engaged in general farming on a fine farm of I 19 acres located in section 30, Granville township, was born April 10, 1856, in a log cabin on his father's farm, which he now owns, and is a son of John P. Wirtz, a native of Germany.
John P. Wirtz was reared to manhood in his native land and came to America when 21 years of age in company with Balser Obringer. He first
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located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later went to Covington, Kentucky, where he was engaged for 10 years as a teamster. From there he proceeded to Chickasaw, Mercer County, where he bought land and was later married. About two years later he moved to Granville township and bought 55 acres of farm land from Henry Franklin. He afterwards bought the old Walker place from Henry Romer. He was one of the pioneers of Granville town- ship; at that time there were no sawmills near and wild game was plentiful. He built a log cabin with a split puncheon floor, and it was here that Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was born. John P. Wirtz became the father of three children, as follows: John, who died aged 14 years; Catherine, who died aged 18 years; and Joseph. Mrs. Wirtz, who was Clara Esser in maiden life, died April 12, 1876, and Mr. Wirtz died July 4, 1904.
Joseph Wirtz was reared on his father's farm in Granville township, has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits and has always lived on the farm where he now lives and where he was born; he continued to live on the farm after his marriage and being the only living child fell heir to the farm on the death of his father. He has built a fine, seven-room, frame house on the farm as well as a large barn and other buildings.
Mr. Wirtz was married on June II, 1880, to Magdalene Bower, a daughter of Jacob and Magdalene (Horning) Bower. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wirtz, namely: Clara, born in October, 1880, who died in childhood; Victoria, born January 27, 1882; Edward, born Novem- ber 19, 1883; Catherine, born December 23, 1885; Elizabeth, born Decem- ber 3, 1887; Anna, born March 31, 1890; Jacob, born June 23, 1892; Wil- helm, born May 1I, 1895; Rose, born March 8, 1898; and Albert, born October 7, 1901, who died in infancy. Mr. Wirtz at one time had nine oil- wells in operation on his place. He was road supervisor for one term, and served on the School Board for a number of years. He is a member of St. Wendelin's Catholic Church at Wendelin.
Jacob Bower, the father of Mrs. Wirtz, was born in Germany, where he was reared to manhood, after which he engaged in farming. He was married to Magdalene Horning and they had eight children, three of whom were born in Germany: Magdalene (Mrs. Wirtz), born February 22, 1859; Jacob, who married Elizabeth Hoening and lives at Chattanooga; Matilda, who died aged 18 years; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Fred, who died in childhood; Mrs. Louise Schwirking, who lives at Cranberry Prairie; Philip, who married Anna Schultz and resides at St. Marys, Ohio; and August, living at St. Marys, who married Blanch Fable. Mrs. Wirtz was eight years old when her parents came to this country and settled at Cran- berry Prairie. She well remembers when her uncle was obliged to carry her about two miles through the swamp up to his boot-tops. They lived for
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five years at Cranberry Prairie, then moved to St. Henry, remaining there for three years. They also resided at Wendelin for eight years, after which they returned to Cranberry Prairie, where her father retired, and where he is still living. Mrs. Bowers died December 7, . 1904.
WILLIAM ADDISON HAMILTON
WILLIAM ADDISON HAMILTON, a posperous citizen of Union township, was born November 23, 1857, half a mile east of his present well-improved farm of 78 acres, and is a son of Hugh and Angeline (Dobson) Hamilton.
The Hamilton family came originally from Ireland to New England, although the earliest records made it of Scotch extraction. The name is found among the early men of affairs in the colonies and was borne by both privates and officers in the Revolutionary and in the Civil War. The great- grandfather of William A. Hamilton lived and died near Rochester, New York.
William Hamilton, the paternal grandfather, was one of the very early settlers of Union township, Mercer County, coming in 1826. He returned to New York and married Charlotta Elmira Abbey, who was born in 1804 in Canandaigua, New York, and in 1828 they came to Union township, Mer- cer County, Ohio, settling in section 26, on Eight-Mile Creek. Mr. Hamil- ton cleared up a farm on which he resided for some years and then moved to Mendon, embarking in the mercantile business. Subsequently he re- turned to the farm and there the remaining years of his life were spent. At one time he owned 400 acres of land; he gave his children farms averaging from 40 to 80 acres when they married. The children of William and Char- lotta Elmira Hamilton were: Polly Ann, who married James Shepherd, of Union township; Lois, who married Cyrus Hussey and resides in Auglaize County; Hugh, the father of our subject; Sallie, who married Warren Barber, an old resident of Union township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Isabelle, who married John A. Murlin, of Mendon; Susan, who died aged 16 years, in 1864; William, who died in 1896 in Union township, being survived by his widow, who lives in this township; and several chil- dren that died in infancy.
Hugh Hamilton, father of our subject, was born in Union township, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1832, half a mile north of where William A. Hamilton lives. There he died in 1900 at the age of 68 years. In January, 1857, he married Angeline Dobson, who was born in 1836 and still sur- vives. She is a daughter of Joseph A. and Eliza (Ribkey) Dobson, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania. His father, William Dobson,
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came from England. He had one son and two daughters, the latter of whom were born in England. His son, Joseph A., married Eliza Ribkey, of Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Allegheny County, thence to Meigs County, Ohio, from there to Athens County, then to Auglaize County, and in 1882 to Mercer County, where both he and his wife died; the former, born in November, 1812, died in 1890, aged 78 years, and the latter, born in 1816, died in 1884.
The children born to Joseph A. and Eliza Dobson were: Mary Etta, who married Thomas Hays and moved to Wisconsin, where both died; Angeline, the mother of our subject; Joseph, who died aged 20 years; Louise, who married John Brewer, lived at Paulding, Ohio, and died in 1902; Catherine, who married Hamilton Noble and lives in Oklahoma ; Annie, who married N. T. Griffin, resided in Mercer County and died in 1905; F. P., who is engaged in a real estate business at Denver, Colorado; William H., also a resident of Denver; Elias, who died aged 24 years; and a babe deceased in infancy.
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