USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 64
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Mr. Schneider was married April 15, 1890, to Christina Heintz, a daugh- ter of George and Mary (Augenstein) Heintz. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider have had three children : Eda, Herbert and Otmar. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are members of the Lutheran Church at Fort Recovery, of which he was treasurer for many years.
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George Heintz, the father of Mrs. Schneider, was born in Elsass, Ger- many, came to America when a young man and located in New York State, where he worked for some time, finally settling in Marion, Ohio. He was married to Mary Augenstein and had three children: Mrs. Mary Heiby; - Emma, who died in infancy, and Christina, the wife of our subject. Mr. Heintz has one son, David, of Recovery township, by his first marriage. Mr. Heintz was agent for 40 years of the West Bote, a German newspaper of 1 Columbus, Ohio. He died in May, 1901, and his wife died in August, 1902.
BARNEY GRIESHOP, JR.
BARNEY GRIESHOP, JR., a well-known agriculturist of Marion township, residing on his farm of 80 acres in section 14, was born on the home farm in this township, August 28, 1872, and is a son of Henry and Mary Anna (Hinders) Grieshop.
The grandparents of our subject came from Germany to America in 1847 and in the following year settled in Marion township, where the grand- father died in 1888. He had two sons and two daughters, all of whom were born in Germany but the younger son, Barney, an uncle of our subject.
Henry Grieshop married Mary Anna Hinders and they have had 12 chil- dren, as follows: Catherine, who married Henry Schwietermann; John, who married Anna Luthman; Lena, widow of Joseph Windt; Barney, who is the subject of this sketch; Rosa, who married Joseph Meinerding; Louis,, who married Mary Link; Frank, who married (first) Rose Steinke and (second) Kate Roeckner; August, who is in the hardware business at Chickasaw; William, Clara and Adaline, all at home; and Benjamin, who died in infancy. The parents still reside in Marion township in the enjoyment of good health, respected and esteemed for their many sterling traits. The father is the oldest continuous resident of Marion township. He can recall the days when deer and other wild animals were plentiful all over his present fine farm.
The subject of this sketch was reared a farmer and purchased his present property at a sale in 1896. It was formerly known as the Jacob Desch farm. Under Mr. Grieshop's excellent methods, a fine, productive farm has been developed. The residence, a commodious one of 12 rooms, was standing on the place when the purchase was made. Mr. Grieshop grows corn, wheat and hay and raises stock.
On October 28, 1896, Mr. Grieshop was married to Mary Meinerding, a daughter of Charles and Bernardina (Meierring) Meinerding, residents of Maria Stein, who have seven children, namely: Joseph, Mary, Henry, Catherine, John, Charles and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Grieshop have three chil-
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dren, namely: Rufena, born November 9, 1900; Anna, born August 4, 1904; and Olefa, born August 9, 1906. Mr. Grieshop and wife both belong to the Catholic Church.
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BERNARD OVERMAN
BERNARD OVERMAN, one of the leading citizens and successful agricul- turists of Marion township, residing on his excellent farm of 80 acres located in section 3, has been identified with the affairs of this locality all his life, as he was born on this farm on March 8, 1843. His parents were Henry and Agnes ( Bockman) Overman.
Both parents of Mr. Overman were born in Germany, But they met and were married at Cincinnati, Ohio, which city remained their home for some five years. During the summers of this period. Henry Overman found work in Cincinnati and during the winters he was employed in the South. In 1837 the family came to Mercer County, where the father bought 80 acres of government land, paying $1.25 per acre for the same; the land office was situated at that time at Lima, where he had to make his entry. Later he bought of John Linder the 80 acres in Marion township, which now con- stitutes our subject's farm, and built a rough log cabin in a little clearing. This land he practically cleared by himself. Our subject can remember when the country was still so wild that packs of wolves, some 40 or 50 in number, with other wild animals roamed through the surrounding forest. So rapidly, however, did the country become settled that by the time he was old enough to hunt, there were 10 hunters to one wolf.
One child was born to the parents of our subject in Cincinnati-Mary, who is the widow of Henry Reichert. Eight more were born on the home- stead farm in Marion township, as follows: Henry, who died aged 21 years; Bernard, the subject of this sketch; Caroline, who married John Brachman, one of the pioneer settlers of Mercer County; Anton, who married (first) Mary Barnard and (second) Catherine Mader; Elizabeth, who married Henry Gottemoller, of St. Henry; John, who married Elizabeth Mescher; Agnes, deceased, who was the wife of Benjamin Miller; and Frederick Joseph, who died aged 21 years. The father of this family died on the home farm on March 8, 1876, and the mother on May 6, 1904. They were honest, worthy, upright people who were respected and esteemed by all who knew them. Their early lives were full of toil but they lived to be able to enjoy some of the fruits of their labor.
Bernard Overman was reared on the home farm, where he remained until his marriage in 1867, when he worked as a carpenter both at Cincinnati and Dayton. In June, 1867, he purchased his farm from his father and he
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HARRY STEVENS FARM BUILDINGS OF JOSEPH W. ARCHER
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH W. ARCHER
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has made all the excellent improvements here, including the building of his large frame residence, his substantial barns and other farm buildings. His place is kept in excellent repair and presents the appearance of a comfortable rural home. Mr. Overman carries on general farming and raises some stock.
On May 14, 1867, Mr. Overman was married to Anna Goke, a daughter of George Goke, who was a native of Germany. Mrs. Overman died January 2, 1881, having had six children, as follows: Agnes, who married (first) Henry Lauger, who died leaving five children, and married (second) George Buning-they live in Auglaize County; Antony, who married Mollie Under- brink and lives at Ottawa, Ohio; Mary and Elizabeth, who died on the same day; Joseph, who died in young manhood, and John, who died at the age of 22 years.
Mr. Overman was married (second) on September 26, 1882, to Ber- nardina Brinckman, who was born in Germany, being a daughter of Arnold and Elizabeth (Vessels) Brinckman, now deceased, who never came to America. There were five children in the Brinckman family, namely: Maria, who married Herman Vorman and died in Germany; Bernardina; Margaret, who married Fred Shultz and lives in New York; Caroline, who married Dick Budde and lives at St. Marys; and Elizabeth, who married Fred Felt- house and lives in Germany. Mrs. Overman is a very intelligent lady and is well educated in the German language. She came to America in 1881.
Mr. and Mrs. Overman have had five children, namely: Elizabeth, who married Joseph Gahle; Anna, who died aged six years; Leo, born August 7, 1891 ; and Josephine and Aloys, who died in infancy."
Mr. Overman and family belong to St. John's Catholic Church. He is one of the prominent members of the church and was a trustee during the years of its construction. He has taken an active interest in township affairs and was elected township trustee during two terms, has also been school director and clerk of District No. 5. Mr. Overman is a man of high standing in his community and is looked upon as one of its representative men.
JOSEPH W. ARCHER
JOSEPH W. ARCHER, who is engaged in general farming on a well-im- proved and highly cultivated farm of 140 acres located in section 17, Union township, was born August 6, 1849, in Hancock County, Ohio. He came with his parents to Mercer County when nine months of age. His father was a native of Richland County, Ohio, and the mother of Wayne County. His father, when he came to Mercer County, located in Union township on the Van Wert County line. The following children were born to the parents of our subject : James Marion, deceased; Ruth, who married Benton Thomas 38
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and resides in Hancock County, Ohio; Nancy, who married Daniel Kuhl and resides near Ohio City in Van Wert County; Louisa, deceased, who was the wife of George Frysinger; Minerva, who married David Krugh and recently moved to Michigan; William Americus, who resides in Union township; Joseph W., subject of this sketch; John, who resides in Union township near the Van Wert County line; Alonzo, who resides on the home place in Union township; and David, a carpenter by trade, who resides at Rockford. Mr. Archer's father was 79 years old at the time of his death, which occurred over 20 years ago, and was the first death in the family. Our subject's mother sur- vived her husband until 1905, being past 84 years of age at her death.
Joseph W. Archer was reared and educated in Union township. In 1880 he purchased his farm of 140 acres, where he has resided since 1881 and been engaged in general farming. He rebuilt the house, built a new barn and made many other important changes, so that the farm is now very well im- proved.
Mr. Archer was married February 18, 1880, to Eliza Caldwell, a daugh- ter of Rev. John and Ann Caldwell, both of whom are now deceased; the former was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Archer have never had any children of their own, but reared and edu- cated a boy, Harry Stevens, who is now married and resides in Michigan, where he owns a farm of 300 acres. A portrait of Mr. Stevens accompanies this sketch; also views of the residence and farm buildings of Mr. Archer. Our subject is a Republican in politics.
H. A. BECKMAN
H. A. BECKMAN, postmaster at St. Henry, where he also deals in hard- ware, stoves and tinware, was born June 20, 1871, in Granville township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Frank H. and Margaret (Herman) Beckman.
Frank H. Beckman was born at St. Henry, Ohio, August 15, 1849, and is a son of Henry A. Beckman, who came to America from Germany when a young man and was one of the early settlers of St. Henry. Upon locating in Mercer County, he worked upon the construction of the canal and the Grand Reservoir. He remained here until his death. Frank Beckman, the father of our subject, was reared in Granville township. After living near Burkettsville for a number of years, he returned to St. Henry, where he and his wife are still living.
H. A. Beckman was reared on his father's farm near Burkettsville, and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. He came to St. Henry in
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1889 and for six years from 1889 to 1895, inclusive, was proprietor of a drug- store, after which he engaged in his present business, in 1903 building his large storeroom. In 1893 he was elected clerk of Granville township, to fill the unexpired term of Henry Romer, and was reelected in the spring of 1900 on the Democratic ticket to the same office, which he continues to hold.
On October 9, 1895, Mr. Beckman was united in marriage with Clara Gottemoller, a daughter of Henry Gottemoller, and they have three children : Leona, Luke and Albert. Mr. Beckman is vice-president of the St. Henry Building and Loan Association, a member of the Mercer County Fair Board and is secretary and treasurer of St. Henry's Catholic Church, of which he is also a member. Mr. Beckman was appointed postmaster of St. Henry on October 19, 1906.
WILLIAM B. HEATH
WILLIAM B. HEATH, a representative citizen and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Union township, where he owns a fine farm of 100 acres, was born some 80 rods east of his present home, May 3, 1857, and is a son of Maj. Joshua W. and Mary Ann (Lytle) Heath.
Maj. Joshua W. Heath, American born and bred, testified to the patri- otic impulses of his nature by entering the service of his country, when her liberties were in danger, in 1861. He entered the service as captain of Com- pany A, 46th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., was promoted to be major on account of gallantry and gave up his life in the line of duty, before Atlanta, Georgia, on July 22, 1864. His honored remains lie in the beautiful National Ceme- tery at Marietta, Georgia. His service had been one of exceptional brilliancy, he having participated in the memorable battles of Mission Ridge, Chatta- nooga, Chickamauga, Orchard Knob, Dalton and Resaca. After his mar- riage, he located in Union township, Mercer County, where the family has been located ever since .*
The mother of our subject still survives at the age of 71 years. She is a daughter of Robert B. Lytle, formerly a resident of Wayne County, Ohio, where she was born, who later became a pioneer of Mercer County. Four children were born to Major Heath and wife, as follows: Martha Elizabeth, who married Willis Hays-both now deceased; William B .; Rachel Emma. who married Milton Tullis, now of Oklahoma; and Ellsworth, who died aged two years. After the death of Major Heath, his widow married George Sny- der and she became the mother of four more children.
William B. Heath was educated in the schools of Union township. The absence of his father in the army threw many responsibilities upon his should- ers and, in every essential, Mr. Heath is a strictly self made man. His prop-
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erty has all been acquired through personal effort and his standing in the com- munity has been won by an upright, honorable life. In 1878 he purchased 40 acres of his present farm, to which he subsequently added 60 acres, and he devotes his land to mixed farming and also raises some stock. Although he taught school for one term in young manhood, his main business in life has been farming, and his reputation is established as a very competent agricul- turist.
In 1877 Mr. Heath was married (first) to Lavina Protzman, who was born in Mercer County, Ohio, and died in 1878, leaving one son, Ansel O., who is now employed in the vicinity of Dayton. Mr. Heath was married (second) to Emma Downey, and they have had two children-Caryden James, aged three years, and Naomi, aged two years.
Fraternally, Mr. Heath is a member of Shane's Lodge, No. 377, F. & A. M., at Rockford; Lodge No. 416, Knights of Pythias, at Mendon, and Lodge No. 750, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also at Men- don. In his political sentiments, Mr. Heath is independent. He recognizes good and honest principles in all parties, but as a whole he does not feel in- clined to identify himself with any and believes he does best when he votes for the man whose life has previously shown the patriotism and integrity a candidate ought to have.
J. A. SWARTS
J. A. SWARTS, a substantial and well-known farmer of Recovery town- ship, owns 376 acres of land in Mercer County, located as follows-153 acres in Recovery township (constituting the home place), 160 acres in Washing- ton township ( which is now occupied by his son, William H. ) and 63 1-3 acres in Butler township (on which his son-in-law lives). Mr. Swarts was born January 24, 1843, in Falls township, Muskingum County, Ohio, about six miles west of Zanesville, and is a son of Asbury and Sarah (Elder) Swarts.
Asbury Swarts, who was a native of Pennsylvania, became a resident of Muskingum County when a boy, in which county he later worked as a plas- terer. Subsequently he moved with his family to Mercer County. He was married in Muskingum County to Sarah Elder and they had eight children, all of whom are deceased but J. A. Swarts, the subject of this sketch, who was the oldest, and LeRoy Swarts, the youngest child, who resides in Darke County, Ohio.
J. A. Swarts was six years old when his parents moved to Mercer Coun- ty. the trip being made in a one-horse wagon that contained all the furniture, besides carrying the family, consisting of the father and mother and three children ; the father was often compelled to cut his way through the woods.
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Before removing from Muskingum County, Asbury Swarts sold his 5-acre tract of land; after settling in Mercer County, he bought 40 acres of land in Washington township from the government, for which he paid $1.25 per acre. He built a log cabin and after living on this land for several years he entered 80 acres more and sold the original 40 acres. He built a new cabin on this land and as there were no roads at that time he was obliged to follow blazed trails when going any distance from home. The deer were almost as plentiful as sparrows are now, and there were many wild hogs, wolves and other wild animals, as well as wild turkeys. The family experienced many of the hardships incidental to pioneer life.
The subject of this sketch had received some schooling while in Mus- kingum County, the schoolhouse adjoining his father's farm; but after settling in Mercer County it was several years before he again attended school, there being no schools in the neighborhood, and when he again returned he found he had forgotten all that had been previously learned. His father kept in- creasing his land and at the time of his death owned 240 acres. Mr. Swarts assisted his father in clearing land and remained on the home farm until after his marriage.
Mr. Swarts enlisted in the 193rd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., in January, 1865, and served until the close of the war. His father and one brother were also soldiers in the Civil War, his father being fife major, but was discharged on account of disability. The brother died of lung fever at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.
After the war Mr. Swarts returned to his home in Recovery township, and engaged in farming, in which occupation he has continued to the present time. He was married in the spring of 1864 to Mary Noland, a daughter of Thomas Noland, who was one of the pioneers of Mercer County. To Mr. and Mrs. Swarts were born six children: Catherine, who married Joseph Showalter, of Hardin County, and has four children; Ellen, who married James Frank, lives on her father's farm in Butler township and has six chil- dren; William H., who married Lida Patton and resides in Washington town- ship; Rachel; Myrtle, who married Theodore Huber, has one child and lives in Marion, Indiana; and Clarence, who is a street-car conductor in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Swarts is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Fort Recovery.
ANTON OVERMAN
ANTON OVERMAN, who resides on the farm adjoining the one on which he was born May 6, 1849, owns 80 acres in section 34, Marion township, and is a son of Henry and Agnes (Bockman) Overman.
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The parents of Mr. Overman, who were natives of Germany, were mar- ried at Cincinnati, Ohio. They resided for some years in that city and then removed, in 1837, to Marion township, Mercer County, where the father bought 80 acres of land from the government, for which he paid $1.25 per acre. Later he purchased another tract of 80 acres from Henry Hoosman, which is the property now owned by our subject and on which he resides. Both parents died on this farm, old and respected residents of the community. They had one child born during their stay at Cincinnati, Mary, who is the widow of Henry Reichert. The others were born on the farm, as follows : Henry, deceased; Bernard; Caroline; Anton, of this sketch; Elizabeth; John; Agnes, deceased; and Frederick Joseph, deceased.
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Anton Overman was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools in his youth and following the life of a farmer from choice. In 1870 he bought his present fine property from his father and has put it into fine shape; here he carries on a general line of agriculture and is recognized as one of the representative farmers of the township. He has been a member of th Mutual Fire Insurance Company for several years, of which period he has been director two years; he has been an agent for the past 10 years.
Mr. Overman was married (first) in June, 1874, to Mary Barnard, a daughter of Leon Barnard, who was a native of Germany but who had settled in Mercer County before the birth of Mrs. Overman. She died March 25, 1881, the mother of two children, John and Frederick, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Overman was married (second) to Catherine Mader, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Bauman) Mader, both of whom were born in Germany and were married at Liverpool, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Mader had eight children, namely: Robert, Joseph, Anton, John, Frank, Josephine (wife of B. Beckmeyer), Mary (wife of David Roesher) and Catherine (Mrs. Overman).
Mr. and Mrs. Overman have had seven children, namely: Emma (de- ceased), Clara, Anna, Louis, Elnora, Frank and Agnes. Mr. Overman and family belong to St. John's Catholic Church. He is also a member of St. Joseph's Society. Mr. Overman has not taken any active part in politics, contenting himself mainly with voting for the candidate who, in his opinion, will best work for good government.
SETH SPRIGGS
SETH SPRIGGS, a well-known turnpike contractor and prosperous farmer of Washington township, who resides on a finely developed and well-improved farm of 185 acres, of which the home farm of 65 acres is situated in sections
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3 and 4, and the remaining 120 acres in section 33, Liberty township, was born May 23, 1861, on the farm in section 3 and is a son of Thornton and Jane (Wilson) Spriggs.
Thornton Spriggs was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in 1837, and in 184I came to Mercer County with his father, William Spriggs, who settled on the farm in Washington township, which our subject now owns. William Spriggs was one of the early pioneers of Mercer County and entered a section of land in Washington township, which lay along the Wabash River. The hewed-log house and barn which he built are still standing on our subject's place. Thornton Spriggs was reared in Washington township, and with the exception of four years spent in Celina, when he was sheriff of the county, has always lived in Washington township. He was one of the largest land- owners in the township, and for a period of 12 years operated a general store at Wabash, under the firm name of T. Spriggs & Sons. His death occurred January 19, 1903, at the age of 67 years. His wife is still living in Wabash with her son, James Spriggs. There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Spriggs : William; Seth; Daniel; John; James; Charles; Lucretia, wife of John Wills, deceased in 1897; and Henrietta, who died aged one year.
Seth Spriggs was reared on his father's farm in Washington township, For over 20 years past he has been engaged as a turnpike contractor, having been interested in the construction of most of the turnpikes of Mercer County, as well as many in Paulding County, Ohio, and Adams and Jay counties, Indiana. In this business, he is associated with his brothers, under the firm style of Spriggs Brothers. In addition to this, he has also been interested in agricultural work. At one time the family was in rather reduced circum- stances owing to some poor investments which the father made; now, how- ever, all the sons of Thornton Spriggs own large farms.
Mr. Spriggs was united in marriage, April 12, 1885, to Mary Wilson, a daughter of Dr. S. R. Wilson, of West Virginia, who is now a resident of Celina. Mr. and Mrs. Spriggs have seven children, namely: Clyde, who was graduated with the highest class honors at the Celina High School in the spring of 1906 and is now teaching in the Prospect school, District No. 2, Washington township; Maud; Frank; Nellie J .; Hazel; William; Carl and Opal, all at home. Frank is attending the Celina High School.
HENRY GAST
HENRY GAST, a leading business man of Chickasaw, owner of the sub- stantial brick block which is a credit to the town and proprietor of one of the oldest mercantile establishments here, has been a resident of this county for the past 40 years. Mr. Gast was born on his father's farm in Auglaize Coun-
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ty, Ohio, March 14, 1842, and is a son of Peter and Gertrude (Eilerman) Gast.
The Gast family is of French extraction. The grandparents of Henry Gast were Andrew and Theresa Gast. Both were born in France and were reared and married there, and when they emigrated to America they brought their four children with them-two sons and two daughters. They landed at the port of Baltimore, but shortly afterward removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and subsequently the father bought a farm near Minster, in Auglaize County. The eldest son, Mathias, became a merchant and was the founder of the busi- ness which our subject is conducting. The second son, Peter, the father of our subject, remained a farmer. He became a very well-known citizen and was concerned in many of the early enterprises, which served to open up this sec- tion to peaceful and rapid settlement. He assisted in the building of the dam at the Grand Reservoir at Celina and also helped in the construction of the canal. In the developing of his property he was an industrious and judicious man, and as time went on he acquired a large amount of valuable farming land. He had made his home in so dense a forest, that when he or members of his family wished to go from Minster to Celina they had to follow a blazed path in order to keep from being lost.
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