USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 59
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FRED HEHMEYER
FRED HEHMEYER, one of the leading citizens of Washington township, and the owner of 225 acres of valuable farm land-160 acres in section 24,1 Washington township (the home place), and 65 acres in section 19, Butler township-was born in Germany, April 10, 1859, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Knippenberg) Hehmeyer, both of whom were born and died in Germany.
Fred Hehmeyer was reared on his father's farm in Germany, remaining there until 20 years of age, when he entered the German Army and served for three years. He then returned to his home and about four months later came to America, landing in New York, April 14, 1882. He located at Dayton, Ohio, for a short time, and then came to Mercer County, where he engaged in farm work until after his marriage, when he moved to a farm owned by his wife. Later he bought 80 acres in Washington township, adjoining his wife's farm, and still later bought another tract of 65 acres in Butler township. He has made many improvements on his property and has erected a large frame house, barn and other necessary buildings. Mr. Hehmeyer is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, owning full-blooded Polled Durham cattle and Poland-China and Chester-White hogs.
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Mr. Hehmeyer was married in 1884 to Christina Wenker, a daughter of Frank and Charlotte (Varwig) Wenker, both natives of Germany, who came to America about 1852, and settled near New Bremen, Ohio, where they lived for about 12 years. Mr. Wenker was a volunteer soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving about nine months. Shortly after returning from the war, he sold his farm near New Bremen and moved to Mercer' County, where he bought a farm of 80 acres in Washington township. To this land he added from time to time and at his death owned 160 acres. His death occurred in March, 1889, and his wife died about 1887. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Hehmeyer was the fifth child.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hehmeyer were born 10 children : Carl, Caroline, Tillie, George, Ida, Henry, John, Emma, Annie and Elice. Mr. Hehmeyer is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has been a trustee and deacon.
JOSEPH MACKE
JOSEPH MACKE, the owner of 200 acres of excellent farming land in Granville township, has his residence on the homestead of 80 acres, situated in section 21, southeast of St. Henry. He was born April 3, 1848, in Butler township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Schonoff) Macke.
Bernard Macke was born in Germany in 1802, and died in Mercer County, December 2, 1849. He came from his native village of Havrebeck without companions, but later found countrymen at Cincinnati, where he worked in a stone quarry. He was married while he lived in that city, andi then purchased from Bernard Romer a farm which was situated in the forests of Mercer County. The elder Joseph Romer had known them in the old coun- try and often visited them while they lived in Cincinnati, being a relative also. When Mr. and Mrs. Macke were ready to take up their residence on their forest farm, Mr. Romer drove them out to the property and landed them and their few possessions, on a Saturday, in the big woods, under a beech tree. Being devout Catholics, they did no work on the following day, but by the time the next Sunday came round they had a roof to shelter them. This farm was cleared by Bernard Macke. After his death, his widow married Henry J. Brackman, who also came from Germany.
The children born to the parents of our subject, were: Mary, who died in infancy; Henry; Bernard, who died aged 20 years; Catherine; Joseph, of this sketch; and Agnes. There were no children born to Mrs. Macke's second marriage; she died May 21, 1881. Mr. Brackman died February 6, 1874.
RESIDENCE AND TILE WORKS OF LEWIS EDWARD FOX
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Joseph Macke's parents moved to Mercer County five years before his birth. He received his home farm of 80 acres from his father's estate when he came of age. About three miles southwest of the homestead is located his other farm, consisting of 120 acres, lying chiefly south of the Greenville treaty line in section 22. The Wabash River runs through a corner of this tract. He distinctly remembers the time when an abundance of game was to be found on the farm. For 40 years Mr. Macke has been a heavy dealer in live-stock, in addition to carrying on general farming.
On October 16, 1866, Mr. Macke was married to Theresa Drahman, who was born March 27, 1850, on her father's farm in Mercer County, and is a. daughter of Bernard and Mary ( Hemmelgarn) Draham. Mr. Draham be- came acquainted with the Macke family in Cincinnati. He was married in Mercer County and died December 2, 1895. His widow survived until July 3, 1899. Their children were: Henry, of Minnesota; Bernardina, deceased ; Anna, deceased; Theresa, wife of Mr. Macke; Elizabeth, deceased; Margaret, deceased; John, of Minnesota; Joseph, of Cincinnati; Frances, wife of J. H. Lange, of Mercer County ; and Bernard, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Macke have had children as follows: Mary, who married Frank Gels, lives at St. Henry and has had six children-Theresa, Joseph, Henry, Ida and two deceased; Elizabeth, who married John Panning, lives at St. Henry and has had four children-Edwin, Leone and two deceased; Rose, who married Jacob Bany, lives at St. Henry and has had seven children- Mathilda, Loretta, Flora, Marie, Cleopha, Alvera, and an infant son, deceased, named Urban; Joseph, who married Rose Miller, resides on a nearby farm and has one child, Helen; Theresa, who married John Gels and lives at St. Henry ; Bernard; Clara ; Anna; Leo; Henry, deceased; Theresa, deceased; Henry; and Ida, deceased. The family belong to St. Henry's Catholic Church at St. Henry. For a number of years Mr. Macke has served on the School Board of the township.
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LEWIS EDWARD FOX
LEWIS EDWARD Fox, one of Union township's representative business men, who is engaged in the manufacture of tile and in the operation of a farm of 80 acres on which he has lived for the past 25 years, was born June 15, 1853, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Peter and Fanny (Moyer) Fox and a grandson of Peter and Anna (Secrist) Fox.
Peter Fox, Jr., the father of our subject, was born and reared on the farm in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where Lewis Edward was born and raised, and it was here that the paternal grandfather was also reared. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Christian Moyer, moved from Lan- 35
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caster County, Pennsylvania, to Dauphin County, where he lived the greater part of his life. Peter Fox died in 1868 at the age of 53 years. He was the father of six sons and one daughter, as follows: Lewis Edward; Benjamin Franklin, deceased; Christian Henry, deceased; John Wesley, who is a resi- dent of Springfield, Ohio, where he is engaged as a machinist; William L., a resident of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania ; Peter W., deceased; and Clara Annie, who married W. H. Wolf, of Pembroke, Pennsylvania.
Lewis Edward Fox was reared on his father's farm in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, received a common-school education and then engaged in farm- ing. In the fall of 1870 he moved to Mercer County, Ohio, and worked on a farm at Neptune for two years. He then went back to his old home in' Pennsylvania, but later returned to Mercer County, where he has since lived. Mr. Fox settled on his present farm in 1881. He was subsequently located for one year at Rockford, where he helped put in a tile plant. After selling the same, he returned to his home in Union township, where he has been en- gaged in manufacturing tile for the past 24 years, having established the factory in 1862. He has always had a large trade and never has been able to manufacture enough to supply the full demand. In 1905 he established a new plant, and with new appliances and improved machinery he has largely in- creased the output. He finds a ready sale for the product, as there is a grow- ing demand for tile and building blocks. He employs eight men to operate the plant. Mr. Fox has made a great many improvements on the farm, on which there was only a small log cabin when it came into his possession. Views of the residence and tile plant accompany this sketch.
Mr. Fox was married January 5, 1876, to Jennie R. Boroff, a native of Union township, Mercer County, and a daughter of the late Harrison and Rebecca (Ross) Boroff, who were among the early settlers of Mercer County. Children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox as follows: William H .; deceased; Clara B., who married Milton Faurot and resides in Van Wert County; Harry G., deceased; Amy, who married Perry Hays and has one child, Helen; Richmond Boyd, deceased; Eddie and Fannie (twins, aged 17 years), who live at home; Peter, aged 14 years; and Marlin, aged 7. Mr. Fox is an Odd Fellow of high standing, being a member of the subordinate and Rebekah lodges at Mendon and the encampment at Celina. He is also a charter member of Mendon Lodge, No. 586, F. & A. M. He is a Democrat politically, but supports the man in preference to the party.
JOSEPH A. MEINERDING
JOSEPH A. MEINERDING, one of the substantial business men of Fort Re- covery, dealer in hardware and farming implements, was born in Fort Re-
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covery, Mercer County, Ohio, February 1, 1875, and is a son of Wessel and Agnes ( Romer) Meinerding.
Wessel Meinerding was born at Maria Stein, Mercer County, and was reared in this county. He moved to Fort Recovery after his marriage and opened a general store which he operated for several years, finally changing it to a dry goods and clothing store. He also ran an elevator. His death oc- curred in 1884. His wife is still living in Fort Recovery. They had seven children, namely : Elizabeth, who married W. H. Anthony, of Celina; Mary; Catherine, widow of the late J. W. Schroeder; W. H., of Petersburg, Indiana, who is in the dry goods business; Agnes; Joseph A .; and Wessel, of Chicago, Illinois.
Joseph A. Meinerding was reared and educated at Fort Recovery. After his marriage he assisted his brother-in-law, J. W. Schroeder, who was engaged in the hardware business, which he established in 1891. After some exper- ience in this business he formed a partnership with Mr. Schroeder in 1897, and at the death of the latter, in 1903, he took possession of the entire business.
Mr. Meinerding was married September 1, 1902, to Gertrude Forbing, a daughter of Peter Forbing. They have two children : Paul B., and Catherine Gertrude. He is a member of the Catholic Church. Fraternally, he is a member of Lima Council, Knights of Columbus.
ANTON KOCH
ANTON KOCH, one of the leading citizens of Chattanooga, for many years was a successful agriculturist in Liberty township, was born in Butler County, Ohio, October 28, 1847, and is a son of John and Annie M. Koch.
The parents of our subject were born, reared and married in Germany. John Koch was born January 1, 1814, and his wife December 20, 1813. A short time before the birth of our subject, they emigrated to America and set- tled in Butler County, Ohio, where they remained until 1852, when they came to Mercer County. They settled on a farm in Liberty township, where they passed the remainder of their lives, John Koch dying February 3, 1892, and his wife, October 19, 1898. They were worthy, industrious, home-building people. The surviving members of the family are one son, Anton, and five daughters, as follows: Susan, wife of John Bauer, of Liberty township: Lena. widow of Joseph Harb, residing in Liberty township; Christina, widow of Adam Bollenbacher, residing in Liberty township; Mary, widow of Adam Schaadt, residing in Liberty township; and Phebe, wife of Philip Schaadt, of Van Wert County. Another daughter, Catherine, who was the wife of Fred
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Schaadt, died July 5, 1898, leaving 10 children ; Fred Schaadt died November 8, 1906.
Anton Koch was about five years old when his parents settled in Liberty township and here he was reared, and educated in the district schools. Prior to 1903, when he moved to the pleasant village of Chattanooga and retired from business activity, he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits entirely and met with the success which provided him with a competency.
On February 9, 1871, Mr. Koch was married to Margaret Menchhofer, who was born in Germany and is a daughter of John and Catherine Mench- hofer, also natives of Germany. When Mrs. Koch was a child of four years, her parents emigrated to America and came directly to Mercer County, set- tling in Washington township. Mrs. Koch was reared there and can remem- ber many interesting events of her girlhood connected with the early days in that vicinity. Her father, John Menchhofer, died February 14, 1875.
Mr. and Mrs. Koch have had nine children born to them, but only four survive, all of whom have homes and domestic circles of their own. They are: Mary, born January 28, 1874, who is the wife of L. G. Baker, of Black Creek township; John, born February 14, 1876, and George A., born De- cember 1, 1877, both of whom reside in Liberty township; and Maggie, born January 1, 1880, who is the wife of Henry Baker, of Chattanooga.
. In politics, Mr. Koch has always been affiliated with the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Evangelical Associa- tion. They have pleasant social connections at Chattanooga and have many friends in Liberty township.
JOHN McQUEEN
JOHN McQUEEN, treasurer of Washington township, who profitably operates his farm of 95 acres in section 25, Washington township, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, January 17, 1842, and is a son of Ivie and Marion (Anderson) McQueen.
John McQueen spent his childhood days in Scotland and was 10 years of age when his parents came to America and located in Michigan. They remained there one summer, removing in September, 1852, to Mercer County, Ohio, settling upon a farm in Recovery township, which was pur- chased by Ivie McQueen, who died less than a year later. Mrs. McQueen died at the home of her daughter in Washington township in 1885, aged 91; years. They had four children: John; James, deceased in 1868; William, who is engaged in farming in Kansas; and Jane, who married John Rans- bottom and died in the fall of 1903.
John McQueen lived in Recovery township until 1865, when he en-
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listed in the 193rd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served until the close of the war. He returned to Mercer County but not to Recovery town- ship, as the home farm had been sold; he bought 40 acres in Washington township, on which he lived for one year and then sold this land. Mr. Mc- Queen bought his present farm shortly after his marriage, it being then all timberland, and has made many improvements. Mrs. McQueen has a part interest in the property.
On January 1, 1867, Mr. McQueen was married to Margaret Jamieson, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Moore) Jamieson. Mrs. McQueen was born in Scotland and when five years old came to America with her parents who settled on the farm adjoining her present home and spent the remainder of their lives in Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson were the parents of four children, namely: Agnes, deceased, who was the wife of Hugh Woodburn and lived in Iowa; Hugh, residing in Washington township near the Indiana State line; George, residing in Washington town- ship; and Margaret. Mrs. Jamieson married James Woodburn after the death of her first husband, and she passed away September 30, 1903, aged 90 years.
Mr. and Mrs. McQueen have had 13 children, as follows: Elizabeth, deceased, aged 19 years; Marion, who married John McClelland, lives in Washington township and has three children-Clifford, Robert and Mar- garet ; John, deceased, aged 15 years; Robert, who married Jerusha Kelly and lives in Washington township; James and Hugh, who died in infancy; Agnes, who married Oscar Snyder, lives at Coldwater and has two chil- dren-Margaret and Glenwood Loree; Ida Pearl, who married John Lein- inger, of Washington township, and has one child, Elva; George, who was accidentally killed while raising a barn, dying April 14, 1905, aged 23 years; Maria, who married Leonard Burris and has one child, Goldie; Nellie, who married Charles Powell, of Jefferson township, and has one child, Paul; and Clyde and Clifford, both at home.
Mr. McQueen has served as school director for 20 years. In the fall of 1905 he was elected township treasurer on the Republican ticket, the elec- tion coming as a great surprise to him, as he was unaware his name was being used.
CLEMMONS H. HULSMAN
CLEMMONS H. HULSMAN, owner of a well-improved farm of 80 acres in Granville township, was born August 7, 1844, and is a son of Henry and Anna (Dennis) Hulsman.
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Henry Hulsman, who was a native of Germany, located at Cincinnati, Ohio, upon coming to this country and was there married. He subsequently moved to Mercer County and worked for a time on the canal and reservoir. He later bought a farm in Granville township, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in the fall of 1856. By his first marriage, with Anna Dennis, he became the father of five children: Bernard, de- ceased; Henry; Clemmons H., the subject of this sketch; Catherine, who married Bernard Johnson; and a daughter, deceased. The second union, with Dina Sumbrink, resulted in three children, namely: Mary, who mar- ried Clem. Morthorst; Theodore; and a child, deceased.
Clemmons H. Hulsman was reared on the home place in Granville township and engaged in working on different farms until about 32 years of age, when he was married to Caroline Winhoven, a daughter of Peter Win- hoven. Mrs. Hulsman died about 10 months after their marriage leaving a daughter, Caroline, who is also deceased. The second marriage was with Frances Fiely, the eighth child in a family of 14 children born to William and Mary (Holthouse) Fiely. A sketch of William may be found else- where in this work, being included in the biography of his son, Henry John Fiely.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulsman, namely: Mary, William, Anthony, Leo, Catherine, Rose, and Frances and Froneca (twins).
Mr. Hulsman owned and resided on a farm of 40 acres until 1903, when he purchased his present farm from his brother-in-law, Joseph Fiely, and has since lived here, engaged in general farming, being recognized as one of the township's most enterprising and successful citizens. Politically, Mr. Hulsman is a stanch Democrat, but has never cared to enter actively into politics. Our subject and his family are connected with St. Francis' Catholic Church at Cranberry Prairie.
MICHAEL VELTEN
MICHAEL VELTEN, who has been a resident of Mercer County for the past 16 years and is engaged in the harness and hardware business at Fort Recovery, was born in Rheinpfalz Byn, Germany, January 10, 1872, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Welthelm) Velten, who were natives of Germany and lived there all their lives. Jacob and Catherine Velten were the parents of five children, namely: Catherine, wife of Carl Miller; Michael; Peter, who married Philomena Stuby; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Heinrich; and Nicholas, who married Alvira Riser. Nicholas and Michael, our subject, are the only members of the family to come to America. Jacob
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Velten, who was engaged in farming, was also a weaver and died in 1887 at the age of 54 years. His wife died January 8, 1904, aged 62 years.
Michael Velten was reared in Germany, receiving a common-school education, and was an assistant to his teacher at one time, when he had 103 children in charge. After leaving school, he worked for some time in a stone quarry and when 17 years of age came to America, where he worked for two years on a farm for his uncle, Fred. Schlachter, at Loramies, Shelby County, Ohio. He subsequently went to Minster, Auglaize County, and worked two years for Theodore Vanderbrook, learning the harness maker's trade. He then removed to Fort Recovery and worked at his trade for two years under J. F. Cull, after which he took a trip through the United States, visiting New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and New Jersey, after which he returned to Fort Recovery. He then worked at his trade in Cincinnati for nine months. In 1896 he bought out his old employer, J. F. Cull, and engaged in the harness business at Fort Recovery, in which business he has since continued, having added hardware and tinware lines.
Mr. Velten was married October 8, 1896, to Rose Vogel, who was born at Utica, New York, March 25, 1874, and is a daughter of Henry and Maria (Beck) Vogel, who were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, France, now a part of Germany. Mr. Vogel, who was a soldier in the French Army for 14 years, came to America in 1873, and settled at Utica, New York, subsequently locating on a farm near Gibsonburg, Sanducky County, Ohio. He after- ward located on a farm in Mercer County, near Coldwater, where he resided until 1906, when he sold the property and now lives in retirement at Cold- water. Eight children were born to Henry Vogel and wife, namely: Rose, wife of our subject; Peter, who lives at Toledo; Mary, who married Ed- ward Rohrkemper, of Hamilton, Ohio; Henry, who married Mary Shan- dorf and resides at Helena, Ohio; Jacob, who married Elizabeth Spoltman and lives near Helena, Ohio, on a farm; Leonard, unmarried, who is serv- ing in the United States Army, being stationed in the Philippines; and John and Joseph, who live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Velten have had four children : Alvira, Victor, Edmond and William.
In June, 1906, Mr. Velten took a trip to the old country, both for his health and pleasure, making a 10-weeks' visit in Germany and France, re- turning to business on August IIth. He is a Democrat politically and has served as a member of the Village Council and in various township offices. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church of Mary, Help of Christians, at Fort Recovery.
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HENRY JOHN FIELY
HENRY JOHN FIELY, owner of a fine farm of 120 acres located in sec- tion 23, Granville township, was born on the farm where he now resides, November 1, 1867, and is a son of William and Mary (Holthouse) Fiely.
William Fiely, who was born in Holland, came to America when a young man. After landing at New York, he worked for a few days on a ship and then proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for two years, working at odd jobs, sometimes for so little as 70 cents per day. He was married while in Cincinnati to Mary Holthouse, who came from Ger- many with her parents when very young and settled at Cincinnati. She was a daughter of Eberhard Holthouse, who was the father of seven children, namely : Eberhard, Henry, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine and Angelica. Shortly after the birth of his oldest son, Mr. Fiely and family moved to Mercer County, and bought a small farm near Philothea. He later sold that farm and purchased 40 acres in Granville township, which is now a part of our subject's farm. There were no buildings on the land, which was covered with timber and wholly unimproved. He first erected a rough log stable, and in that his wife and child found shelter. It was in the fall of the year when he located on the place, and he had nothing but $5 in money and an axe with which to cut down timber. He bought a steer of Mr. Spoltman, paying for the same by work, and in the meantime kept on clearing his land. The following summer he carried brick for St. Henry's Catholic Church, which was then being built, and earned enough to buy an- other steer. He soon made good progress in clearing his own farm. Wild game of all kinds was plentiful and no roads were to be found, only foot-paths such as were made by the cattle. He cut down timber, made barrel staves from the white oak trees and carted them into Minster, exchanging a load of staves for a sack of flour ; it required two days to make the trip, and he would stay out on the road all night. He bought the first reaper in his part of the county ; it was a very awkward machine to handle and it was while operating it that he lost his arm. He was a very successful farmer and gradually acquired more and more land until at his death he owned about 340 acres. He started . the first brick-kiln in his section of the county, the nearest one being at Fort Recovery, and for 14 seasons was engaged in this business, in which he was very successful. He was the father of 14 children, namely: Mrs. Mary Spoltman; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Bosken; Anna, wife of William Schwietermann ; Louise, who died aged 18 years; Catherine, wife of Bernard Bertke; Henry, deceased in infancy; John H., who married Philomena, Bertke; Bernardina, wife of Henry Sheffer; Frances, wife of Clem. H. Hulsman; Joseph, who married Elizabeth Eyink; Bernard, who married
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