USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 66
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and in 1893 located at Chickasaw, where he purchased a home and engaged in the practice of medicine in which he has met with much success.
Dr. Rawers was married May 27, 1891, to Anna Desch, a daughter of Casper and Maria Desch, and seven children were born to them, namely : Arthur, Salome, Leander, Arlington, Clarence, Georgia and Evangeline (deceased in infancy). Dr. Rawers and his family are members of the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church at Chickasaw. The Doctor enjoys the dis- tinction of being the first citizen of Chickasaw to own an automobile.
Casper Desch, father of Mrs. Rawers, was born at Maria Stein, Mercer County. His father, who was one of the very earliest settlers of the south- eastern section of Mercer County, worked on the construction of the canal and the Grand Reservoir. At that time the country was entirely a wilderness and it was necessary to block the doors to keep out the wolves and other wild animals. The nearest mill was at Piqua. Casper Desch was married to Maria Roeckner, and they had eight children: Catherine, who married Clem. Birkmeyer; Maria, who married Max Stippich, now deceased; Anna, wife of Dr. Rawers; Joseph; Stephen; Anthony; Margaret, who married Charles Homer ; and Edward.
WILLIAM SPRIGGS
WILLIAM SPRIGGS, a prosperous farmer and a leading citizen of Wash- ington township, whose well-developed farm of 83 acres is situated both in Washington and Liberty townships, 23 acres being in section 3, Washington township, and 60 acres in section 34, Liberty township, is also a turnpike con- tractor. He was born on the old Spriggs homestead, which was entered by his grandfather, William Spriggs, in 1840, and is a son of Thornton and Jane (Wilson) Spriggs, both of whom were born in Jackson County, Ohio. The family history may be found in the sketch of Seth Spriggs, appearing else- where in this work.
William Spriggs is the oldest of a family of eight children, and was reared and educated in Washington township. After leaving school, he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, and was also associated with his father in the grocery business at Wabash for many years. He also operated a saw- mill at Wabash for some years. In 1884 he formed a partnership with his father, Thornton Spriggs, and his brothers, under the firm name of Spriggs & Sons; after the father's death, the firm became Spriggs Brothers. The firm was formed to contract for turnpike and street work. They have built a large share of the turnpikes of Mercer County, and many in Jay and Adams
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counties, Indiana, and Paulding County, Ohio. The firm also built the track in the Fair Grounds at Celina.
William Spriggs was married April 14, 1900, to Martha Karr, a daugh- ter of Lorenzo Karr.
CALVIN MARION JORDAN
CALVIN MARION JORDAN, one of Butler township's well-known agricul- turists, residing on his well-developed farm of 40 acres located in section 17, was born September 21, 1866, in Portland, Jay County, Indiana, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Spade) Jordan, and a grandson of Garret Jordan.
Garret Jordan, who was a native of Ireland, emigrated to America about 1830, settling in Meigs County, Ohio. He died in 1876, near Portland, Indiana, leaving to his family a farm of 160 acres. Abraham Jordan was born at Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio, and is now residing in Jay County, Indiana, where he owns a fine farm of 160 acres. He married Sarah Spade and they have four children : William, who married Sarah Logan and lives at Portland, Indiana; Bertha, who married William Wilson and lives in Jay County, Indiana ; Calvin Marion; and Grant, who married Ora Hughey and lives in Washington township.
Calvin M. Jordan was reared in Jay County, Indiana, and attended the district schools of Portland. In 1890 he came to Mercer County and engaged in farm work. In the spring following his marriage he moved to his mother- in-law's farm in Washington township, which he managed until 1903, when he came to his present property, which he had purchased in 1898. Here he has made many improvements, including the erecting of a large frame house and barn. Mr. Jordan was candidate for nomination on the Democratic ticket as infirmary director, but was defeated, through it being a four-cornered fight ; he carried his own township by a handsome majority. Mr. Jordan was married September 21, 1889, to Olive Loughridge, who is a daughter of William and Elizabeth Loughridge. They have one son, Ralph, who is at- tending the Coldwater High School.
JOSEPH WALLISCHECK
JOSEPH WALLISCHECK, a prosperous farmer of Recovery township, whose fine farm of 90 acres is located in section 7, was born in Baden, Ger- many, July 19, 1846, a son of Philo and Varona (Theobald) Wallischeck.
Mr. and Mrs. Philo Wallischeck came to America in 1853, first locating for a short time in Cincinnati. From there they moved to Galion, Ohio, thence to Marion County, and in 1855 finally located on a farm in Recovery
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township, Mercer County, which is now owned by their son Joseph. They had five children: Joseph, our subject, who is the eldest of the family; Charles; Frank, who is a well-known farmer of Recovery township; and Mrs. Susanna Barth and Catherine, who live in Illinois. Charles Wallischeck named above, studied for the Catholic priesthood at St. Charles Seminary, Carthagena, and at other schools and is a very well educated man. He be- came a priest in the Catholic Church and is known as Father Peter. For the past 12 years he has been a resident of California, where he is a professor in a college. Recently he made a visit to his old home in Mercer County, the first visit in 28 years.
Joseph Wallischeck was just seven years old when his parents came to this country and located in Cincinnati. In 1855, when he was nine years old, his parents settled in Recovery township on the farm which he now owns. Here he was reared and educated, and since reaching manhood he has con- tinued to reside on the home farm, his parents moving in 1880 to Illinois, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Wallischeck lives in a fine brick house, which was built by his father. The family first lived in a log house and it was necessary to clear the land of the forest growth before any crops could be grown.
Mr. Wallischeck was married on the 26th of October, 1880, to Theresa Esser, a daughter of John Esser. They have had seven children: Philo Peter, John, Christina Catherine, Elizabeth, Godfrey, Mary and Dora. Mr. Wallischeck and family are all members of the Catholic Church of Mary, Help of Christians, at Fort Recovery.
JAMES SANFORD WATKINS
JAMES SANFORD WATKINS, justice of the peace of Gibson township and one of the leading farmers of the township, owns and operates a fine farm of 80 acres, located in section 27. He was born June 28, 1851, in that part of Darke County that is now included in Mercer County, and is a son of James and Laura (Scranton) Watkins.
James Watkins was born in Gallia County, Ohio, and when a boy was brought by his parents to Darke County, where he was reared and educated. He was married to Laura Scranton and they became the parents of six chil- dren, namely: Abram, deceased in infancy; Peniah, deceased in 1876, who was the wife of Bentley Masslich; Clementina, who married Ephraim Hall and resides at Fort Recovery ; Louisa, who married Frank Hall, of Fort Re- covery; James Sanford; and John, who lived at Fort Recovery at the time of his death, August 8, 1906.
James S. Watkins was reared on a farm and has spent all his life on one.
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Mr. Watkins moved to his present farm in 1876, at which time it belonged to his father-in-law, John Sutherland. After the death of Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Watkins bought out the other heirs, and has made many improvements on the place, having built a large frame house and barn. He was a teacher in Mercer and Darke counties for 21 years.
Mr. Watkins was married January 6, 1875, to Minerva E. Sutherland, and they had five children : Charles N., married, who is practicing medicine at Chattanooga, Mercer County, being a graduate of the Ohio Medical Uni- versity at Columbus; Minnie Annetta, who married Amos Ulmer and has three children; James S., a resident of Fort Recovery, who is married and has two children; William, who died in infancy; and an unnamed son that died in infancy. Mrs. Watkins died May 4, 1887. Mr. Watkins married Martha Alice Pearson on January 12, 1889, and one child was born to this union : Elsie L., who died an infant. After the death of his second wife he was married, March 14, 1896, to Mrs. Margaret A. (Gilbert) Richardson, widow of John S. Richardson.
Mr. Watkins is now serving his second term as justice of the peace of Gibson township. He was for some time a member of the School Board. He is a member and trustee of the Evangelical Church.
MICHAEL SCHOTT
MICHAEL SCHOTT, a prominent citizen of Liberty township, a well- known agriculturist and a man who is a leader in oil development, owns a farm of 76 acres in section 7, which has been shown rich in both oil and gas. Mr. Schott was born in Washington township, Mercer County, Ohio, October 28, 1855, and is a son of Michael and Catherine (Breckhisen) Schott.
The parents of Mr. Schott were born in Germany. In 1850 they emi- grated to America and came directly to Mercer County, and were settlers at an early date in Washington township. Of the children of the parents of our subject, three survive, namely : Mary, wife of Adam Martin, of New Cory- don, Indiana; Barbara, wife of Ferdinand Huffman, Jr., of Liberty township; and Michael, of this sketch. Of the deceased, Jacob left a widow and five children, who live in Washington township.
Michael Schott was reared in Washington township until the age of eight years, and then came to Liberty township with his mother and step- father, Nicholas Martin. His own father had died when he was two years of age. He attended school in Liberty township and assisted Mr. Martin on the farm for some years, but he is practically a self-made man, acquiring his possessions through his own industry.
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On November 12, 1874, Mr. Schott was married to Margaret Kuehm, who was born in Germany and came to America when 18 years of age, in: company with her parents, who settled in Jefferson township, Adams County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Schott have had nine children, the survivors being : August M., Elizabeth, Frederick W., Mary C., Lorena B., Walter A. and Margaret O.
Mr. Schott is identified with the Democratic party. He has served two terms as assessor of Liberty township. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Schott is a practical oil operator and is well-known in the various fields. He is in the employ of the State Line Oil Company, of Newark, New York, with which organization he has been connected for a considerable period. He is known to be a man of business ability and personal integrity and enjoys the respect of his fellow-citizens.
JACOB HILDBOLD
JACOB HILDBOLD, a substantial farmer of Gibson township, whose fine farm of 160 acres is located in section 23, was born in Switzerland, March 25, 1830, and is a son of Nicholas and Mary (Senn) Hildbold, the former a miller by trade, who owned a mill in Switzerland.
Jacob Hildbold was reared in Switzerland, where he worked in his father's mill until he was 18 years of age, after which he worked in a factory until he was 24 years old. He then came to America and first located at Galion, Ohio, where he engaged as a blacksmith in a railroad shop for about 16 years. After leaving Galion, Mr. Hildbold bought a farm of 50 acres' in Morrow County, Ohio, where he was engaged in general farming for about five years. After selling his farm, he moved to Crawford County, where he purchased a 70-acre tract in that county. After five years' residence on this farm, he sold and moved to Mercer County, and in January, 1882, bought his present farm in Gibson township, where he has since continued to reside.
Mr. Hildbold was married in 1856 to Anna Mathias, a daughter of George Mathias, who is a farmer living near Crestline, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hildbold have had nine children, as follows: Charles, living in Gibson town- ship, who is married and has three children-Harry, Florence and Walter; John, a resident of Gibson township, who is married and has two children- Leo and Helen; Herman, living on the home farm, who married Mary Hall, a daughter of Frank Hall, and has four children-Ralph, Grace, Nellie and Donald; Mary, who married Henry Weil, of Jay County, Indiana, and has three children-Cora, Ora and Ethel; Henry, living in Recovery township,
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who is married and has one child, Gerald; Samuel, who is single and lives at home; and Amelia, Abraham and Ida, deceased. Mrs. Hildbold died in September, 1896. Mr. Hildbold was raised a Presbyterian, but is now a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, there being no Presbyterian Church near.
WILLIAM S. HANSEL
WILLIAM S. HANSEL, who for more than 41 years was a successful agriculturist of Hopewell township, where he still owns an excellent farm of 120 acres, has been a retired resident of Celina since October, 1901. Mr. Hansel was born in Hocking County, Ohio, November 26, 1835, and is a son of George and Mary ( Pontius) Hansel.
The father of Mr. Hansel was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he married. He and his wife became early settlers of Hocking County, where they lived quiet, agricultural lives for many succeeding years.
William S. Hansel was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district schools. On August 13, 1857, he was united in marriage with Sarah A. Hanby, who was born in Hocking County, Ohio, March 27, 1839, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Cloud) Hanby. Mr. and Mrs. Hanby, who were natives of Pennsylvania, were pioneers in Hocking County and thus Mrs. Hansel was well trained in the pioneer life and the hard con- ditions to which she was subjected when she accompanied her husband to Hopewell township.
Mr. Hansel remained in Hocking County until after the birth of two children and then decided to remove to Mercer County. The family effects were packed in a two-horse wagon and the journey consumed four and a half days before the new home in section 11, Hopewell township, was reached. At that time the forest still covered what is now one of the finest farms in the township, and to the development of this Mr. Hansel devoted many years of his life. He was amply repaid for his industry and remained on the farm until advancing years caused him to seek a retired life. He was one of the township's leading citizens and was ever ready to do his duty in advancing the educational interests of his neighborhood and in assisting in public im- provements.
The eight surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Hansel are: John N., of Hopewell township; Mary E., wife of Jasper Wilson, of Greene County, Ohio; Lucinda, wife of Frank Warthman, of Dublin township; and George, Joseph, Henry, Ida (wife of Jacob Beougher) and August, all of Hopewell township.
Mr. and Mrs. Hansel have been consistent members of the Church of
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God for very many years and Mr. Hansel has been a trustee, an elder and a deacon in the same. They are well known and are beloved by a wide circle of friends. The half-century anniversary of their marriage is approaching and it is the earnest wish of kindred and friends that many more years of happy life together may be vouchsafed them. Their pleasant home on Wayne street and Nickerson avenue, Celina, is one of great hospitality.
ADAM BEACH
ADAM BEACH, who is at the head of the only boot and shoe store in Fort Recovery, was born in Germany, January 3, 1859, and is a son of Andreas Beach, who is still a resident of Germany.
Adam Beach was reared and educated in Germany and learned the shoe- maker's trade. In 1882, when 22 years old, he came to America, landing at New York. He first located in Crestline, Ohio, where he worked for about four years as a shoemaker, in 1885 removing to Fort Recovery, where he opened a repair shop. Two years later he put in a line of shoes, expending about $200. He kept increasing this stock and at present has the only shoe store in Fort Recovery, having bought out E. T. Hastings' stock of shoes in the fall of 1905 and combined it with his own. Mr. Beach owns his residence property and also owns a storeroom, which is at present occupied by a poultry store.
Mr. Beach has been married twice, his first marriage occurring in 1885 to Margaret Mathias, a daughter of John Mathias. They had one child, Leonora Anna. Mrs. Beach died in 1887. He was again married, in 1888, to Eliza- beth Mathias, a sister of his first wife, and they have had three children, namely : Aurelia Marguerite, Arden and Ruth.
Mr. Beach served as trustee of Gibson township for six years. He has served as treasurer of the Recovery corporation for the past five years. He has also been a member of the Fort Recovery Village Council. Religiously, he is a member and trustee of Trinity Lutheran Church at Fort Recovery.
PETER J. SCHMITZ
PETER J. SCHMITZ, whose excellent farm of 10312 acres of well-culti- vated land is situated in Gibson township, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, May 21, 1862. He is a son of John and Mary Ann ( Pfiefer) Schmitz.
John Schmitz, father of our subject, was born in Germany, April 3, 1817, and still survives, being probably the most venerable resident of Sharpsburg,
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Gibson township. He came to America in 1844 and settled in Lorain County on a property that his father had purchased. After his marriage, he bought a farm in that county on which he lived for some 20 years, leaving it to re- move to Mercer County, in 1864. After selling the old farm, he bought 80 acres in Gibson township, this being the farm now owned by our subject. On this he erected a log house which is still inhabited and later bought 80 acres adjoining. Still later he added 50 acres more, situated in Darke Coun- ty. He was considered a very judicious business man during his active life.
John Schmitz married Mary Ann Pfiefer, and they had eight children, namely : Maggie, who died aged II years; John, a wagon-maker, whose home is in Oregon; Joseph, a resident of Gibson township; Jacob, who lives in Minnesota; Gertrude, the wife of Joseph Remanklus, of Jay County, In- diana; Emma, wife of David Schlamp, of Gibson township; Peter J., of this sketch; and an infant that died unnamed.
Peter J. Schmitz was two years old when his parents brought him to Mercer County and he was reared in Gibson township. He learned the car- penter's trade and has followed that in connection with farming. He has many improvements about the place and in 1905 he built a large, convenient barn for his use. He carries on general farming.
On August 17, 1886, Mr. Schmitz was married to Elizabeth Leiser, a daughter of Frederick and Mary (Agler) Leiser. Frederick Leiser came with his parents to America from Germany, when seven years of age, his parents settling in Tuscarawas County, where he married when grown to manhood. He had 13 children, namely: Valentine, who died in infancy; Philip, who died aged five years; Katie, wife of Patrick Reedy, of Darke County, Ohio; Mary, wife of John Bright, of Dayton, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of our subject; Charles, of Canal Dover, Ohio; Martha, wife of Englebert Schmitz, of Dayton; Anna, wife of William Camper, of Dayton; Maggie, wife of Peter Rummel, of Granville township; John, a teacher in Gibson township; Carrie, wife of Benjamin Hulsman, of Gibson township; William, a teacher in Gibson township; and Lawrence, who died aged four years. Mrs. Schmitz was 12 years old when she accompanied her parents to Mercer County.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz moved to Oregon, where Mr. Schmitz bought 40 acres of land, on which they lived for seven years and then came back to Mercer County. They have nine children: Frederick William, Mary Anna, Ursula, Emma, George, Henry, Lawrence, Charles and Gertrude. Mr. Schmitz and family are members of St. Paul's Catholic Church at Sharpsburg, of which he is one of the directors.
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ANDREW J. SMITH
ANDREW J. SMITH,* a highly respected citizen and representative agri- culturist of Hopewell township, residing on his well-cultivated farm in section 29, was born February 13, 1862, in Liberty township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret ( Karch) Smith.
The parents of Mr. Smith were natives of Germany. His father was an early settler in Liberty township. When the Civil War broke out, he went into the service and died, from hardships endured, shortly after its close. The survivors of his family are: Andrew J., of this sketch; George, of Jefferson township; Matilda J., wife of John J. Hole, of Paulding County, Ohio; and Mary, wife of Levi Lincoln, of Lima. A half-sister of our subject is Sophia, wife of Stephen Garman, of Hopewell township.
Andrew J. Smith has lived in Hopewell township since his youth and has been on his present farm since 1879. His education was obtained in the district schools where his children are now receiving instruction, but under much more advantageous conditions.
In early manhood he was married to Mary Kanorr, who was born in Mercer County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Richard Kanorr, who gave up his life for his country, as a soldier in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had seven children, namely: Leroy (deceased), Myra, Stephen, Edith, Cleteth, Alonzo and Sevilla.
Mr. Smith has always been identified with the Democratic party but he has not desired political office, the affairs of his business requiring his time and attention.
HUGH KINCAID
HUGH KINCAID,* who has been a resident of Liberty township for over a quarter of a century, living on a valuable farm of 77 acres, is also an hon- ored survivor of the great Civil War. Mr. Kincaid was born in Jackson County, Ohio, August 7, 1839, and is a son of James and Susan (Gilliland) Kincaid, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Ohio.
Hugh Kincaid was reared in Jackson County and received his education in the district schools near his father's farm. Until the second year of the Civil War, he continued to till his father's fields, but in the summer of 1862 he decided that his duty lay in becoming a defender of his country's flag and he enlisted in Company F, 117th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served one year in that regiment. It then became a part of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and he still remained a member of the 117th, participating in all its dangers · and victories until he was honorably discharged and was mustered out of the
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service in the spring of 1865. The most serious battles in which he partici- pated were those at Strawberry Plains and Jonesboro. He left the service of his country with a record of which his kindred may always feed proud, faithful to every call of duty and cheerful and obedient in the face of almost certain death on many memorable occasions.
After his return from the army, Mr. Kincaid resumed farming, for three years at Missouri, Putnam County, Ohio, from there going to Jay County, Indiana, later removing to Washington township, Mercer County, and in 1878 locating on his present farm in Liberty township. He carries on gen- eral agriculture, having the larger part of his farm under an excellent state of cultivation.
Mr. Kincaid was married (first) to Micha Wilson, who was born in Scioto County, Ohio, and they had nine children, six of whom survive, as fol- lows: Alexander, of Liberty township; Susan, wife of P. Bodkin, of Au- « glaize County ; William, of Jefferson township; John, of Jay County, Indiana ; Leo, of Washington township; and Altha, wife of Frederick Hess, of Mercer County. Mr. Kincaid's second marriage was to Emma Linch, who was born in Indiana, and they have the following children : Grace, Cora, Opal, Bessie, Frank and an infant.
Mr. Kincaid enjoys the friendship of his neighbors and the respect of his fellow-citizens throughout the township. He takes an active interest in its affairs and is considered one of its representative men.
TOBIAS EICHENAUER
TOBIAS EICHENAUER,* a well-known agriculturist of Hopewell town- ship, who resides upon a fine farm of 130 acres, situated in section 20, has lived here some 32 years. He was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Decem- ber 30, 1850, and is a son of Frederick and Anna C. (Rodiger) Eichenauer.
Mr. Eichenauer was 17 years of age when he came to America, leaving his parents in the old country. He lived for a time in Lorain County, Ohio, but in 1874 he came to Mercer County and has become one of the most suc- cessful farmers and stock-raisers of this locality. His land is well cultivated and the improvements he has put on it have cost considerable money.
On February 24, 1874, Mr. Eichenauer was married to Elizabeth Schmidt, a daughter of the late John E. Schmidt, who was born in Ger- many and was an early settler in Hopewell township, having established his home here in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Eichenauer have had 10 children and seven of these still survive, as follows : Frank W. and William H., both of Hope- well township, the latter being a popular teacher; Daniel W., a farmer in
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