History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 102

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744

USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 102

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C., is the wife of James Wade; George W. resides on the old homestead, while the youngest is Anna, the wife of Richard Stump.

John C. Haughn remained on the home place assisting his father until he reached his majority. At the age of twenty-four, in 1867, he married Nettie Taylor, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, August 18, 1848, the daughter of Alford and Miranda Taylor, respectively, of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Alford Taylor died at the old Taylor home, February 22, 1902, at the age of eighty. His widow spent her last years with J. C. Haughn and wife, and died at their home, February 26, 1907, aged eighty years, two months and twenty-six days.

To Alford and Miranda Taylor five children were born, namely : Janet, or Nettie, the wife of John C. Haughn; Samuel, of Franklin county, Ohio; James, who died in 1891 ; Mary, the wife of Charles Reaves, a farmer, and Josephine, the wife of James Bell, also a farmer.

To John C. and Nettie (Taylor) Haughn the following children have been born: Charles E., who lives in Williams county, Ohio, married Bertha Werth, and they have two children, Ira and Mabel; Alford W., who lives in the north edge of Liberty township, married Emma Ebinger, who is now deceased, leaving three children, Arthur, Esther and Cloice. His second wife is Anna Leinsetter, and to this marriage have been born two children, Wil- mer and Myron. Isa D., the wife of Joseph Warren, a farmer living on the north side of Liberty township, and they are the parents of five living chil- dren, Alford, Nettie, Harley, Sylvia and Florence, and three who died in infancy ; Leslie S. married Emma Broomgarth, and lives near Milan, Michi- gan. They are the parents of six children, Myrtle, Clarence, Johnny, Mar- garet, Orville and Ruth; Harry S. married Lillie Yenner, the daughter of John Yenner, and they have four children, Gladys, Geneva, Thelma and Wilma. They live near Medary, in Liberty township; Floyd D. married Bertha Snyder, and lives near the central part of Liberty township. They are the parents of three children, Gale, Chester and Franklin; Goldie M. is the wife of Charles Mullett, a farmer living in the south part of Liberty township, and they are the parents of seven children, of whom there are two pairs of twins, Nellie Edna, Harold, David and Barbara, twins, and also Etta and Lettie, twins; Mary M. is the wife of Edward Neice, a farmer on the west line of Liberty township, and they have four children, Oscar, Lor- etta, Janetta and Bertha; Ruth A. is the wife of Arthur Sterritt, a farmer living in the east part of Liberty township, and has two children, Charley and Farley.

After his marriage, Mr. Haughn first rented a farm, on which he lived

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until 1876, when he came to Putnam county and bought a tract of one hun- dred and sixty acres of forest land in Liberty township, and which still con- stitutes a part of his present farm. He now owns over three hundred and. eighty-five acres, all of which is in Liberty township. Here he had to fell the first trees in order to secure a seat to sit upon, and here he settled his young family and began his business life in Putnam county. He cleared away a space in the woods, built a log cabin, settled his family in this rude home, and for the first year rented some land and cultivated, but since then has devoted his attention to his own premises. To his original tract of one hundred and sixty acres, he added land from time to time until he acquired his present splendid farm. For the first three years he failed in making crops sufficiently large for his own use on account of a superabundance of surface water, but with untiring industry and good management, Mr. Haughn has succeeded in draining his land and bringing it to a high state of cultiva- tion and productivity. He has made many extensive improvements on the place, erecting a two-story frame dwelling-house, commodious barns and substantial and convenient outbuildings, windmill orchards, etc., and has a most desirable country home in every respect. Mr. Haughn raises a great deal of live stock for the markets, which adds not a little to his annual in- come, and he is regarded as one of the best farmers in the township.

John C. Haughn is a Democrat, and, as a matter of public duty, has accepted several of the minor township offices, but is far from being an office seeker. He is a man of strictest integrity and of sterling enterprise, and it is such as he who have laid the foundation for the prosperity of Putnam county ..

SIDNEY C. DIBBLE.

A prosperous farmer now living in Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio, is Sidney C. Dibble, who has been a resident of this county since 1902. Born in Lucas county, Ohio, he lived there until he was grown and then moved with his parents to Henry county, Ohio, where he lived until he came to Putnam county. He has been a life-long farmer and has been unusually successful in all of his agricultural operations, and now has one of the most attractive farms in the township, and is classed among the most progressive agriculturists.

Sidney C. Dibble, the son of William E. and Martha J. (Taylor) Dibble, was born on February 27, 1861, in Waterville township, Lucas county, Ohio.

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His father's history, which appears elsewhere in this volume, may be referred to for further family data.

Sidney C. Dibble was reared on his father's farm, in Lucas county, until he was eighteen years of age. He then removed with his parents to Ottawa county, and while there he worked in a stave factory for three years. Later, his parents moved to Henry county, where his father bought a farm, which was heavily timbered. Sidney C. and his brother, William W., helped their father to clear this land and put it under cultivation. In this county Sidney C. Dibble grew to manhood, married and began to farm for himself. He and his brother bought a farm of their own in partnership in Bartlow town- ship, Henry county, in 1887, each paying one hundred dollars as the first payment. They leased it for two years to a tenant and then Sidney lived upon it himself for one year. The brothers then traded the farm for a tract of land in Marion township, where the family had previously lived, and on this farm Sidney C. Dibble lived until 1902, at which time he sold it and bought a farm in Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio. This farm was known as the Dan Butler farm and was located about six miles northwest of Leipsic. After living on it for about ten years, he sold it and bought a farm, of one hundred and four acres, adjoining the town of Leipsic, and here he has since resided. He built a fine country home and also has a large and commodious barn on the farm. He engages in diversified farming, and handles as much stock as he can feed on his own farm.

Sidney C. Dibble was married in 1885 to Louisa Delanoy, who was born in Marion township, Henry county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Peter and Keziah (Clark) Delanoy. Her father was born in Schenectady, New York, near the Catskill mountains, and was a cooper by trade, although, after his marriage, he went to farming. Peter Delanoy and his wife moved to Henry county, Ohio, in 1861, and in 1864 Mr. Delanoy enlisted in the Civil War, but was taken down with typhoid fever and discharged on account of dis- ability. After returning from the war, he farmed the rest of his life in Henry county, where his death occurred about fifteen years ago, his wife passing away about four years later. Keziah Clark, the wife of Mr. De- lanoy, was born at Peterborough, England, and was a daughter of William Clark and wife. She came to America at the age of sixteen with her parents and located in Huron county, Ohio, where she was living when she married Mr. Delanoy.

Sidney C. and Louisa (Delanoy) Dibble have one son, Ray M., who was born in 1892. They are justly proud of the record which their son has made. After graduating from the Leipsic high school, he entered Ohio State Uni-

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versity and graduated in the agricultural course in 1914, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. While in college, he took part in the various activities of college life in addition to his regular college work. He was secretary of the Commons Club, and was a member of the Methodist students' council. He won second prize, in 1912, in the individual drill in the cadets, an organiza- tion which includes a thousand students. While in the university, he joined the Students Volunteer Band, each member of which is pledged to do foreign missionary work if God permits. He was also active in the teaching of for- eigners the use of English and arithmetic. He also taught colored boys, at the mission school in Columbus, and had charge of the games room. He was interested in social service work and took an active part in everything which pertained to the uplift of those less fortunate in life. Ray is of a decided literary turn of mind and has written quite a number of contributed articles for the home papers. He was formerly exchange editor of the Ohio State Weekly, at Columbus, but upon entering Ada Normal University, in the fall of 1914, he surrendered this position. He is now taking a course in public speaking at Ada with the intention of entering professional life.

Sidney C. Dibble and his family are all loyal members and active work- ers in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Dibble is a woman of education and refinement, and after attending the high school at Leipsic, taught school for three years in Putnam county. Mr. Dibble is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry at Leipsic.

HENRY W. RUHE.

Among the distinguished citizens of Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, is Henry W Ruhe, who is a son of one of the earliest pioneers of Putnam county.

Henry W. Ruhe was born in section 32, south of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, in 1849, the son of Gerhardt Joseph and Mary Anna (Musing) Ruhe. Gerhardt Joseph Ruhe was born in Saarbeck, Germany, November 2, 1812, and died at the age of sixty-six years, December 29, 1878, on his farm south of Glandorf. He came to America in 1833 or 1834, but was married in the old country to Mary Anna Musing, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Musing. Upon coming to America, he located at once on his farm in Ottawa township, which he entered from the government. There were hordes of Indians in Putnam county at that time, and no roads had been built. In the beginning, Mr. Ruhe worked on the canal in the spring and summer and the

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women at home did the planting, using hoe, spade or shovel, instead of the plow. The rich soil produced abundantly. In winter, they worked at clear- ing the timber from the land. Mr. Ruhe entered eighty acres, and later bought another eighty, and spent his entire life on this farm. There were twelve children in the family, of whom six grew to maturity : Barney ; Mrs. Theresa Hinker; Mrs. Josephine, Knueve, deceased; Henry William; Mrs. Catherine Wortkoetter and Anthony B. The father of these children died on December 29, 1878, and the mother died on August 29, 1896.

Henry W. Ruhe was married to Barbara Koening, February 7, 1877. She was born in Liberty township, Putnam county, the daughter of Charles and Matilda (Kastel) Koening. Her parents came from Bavaria, and were early settlers where she was born. Eight children were born to Mr. Ruhe's first marriage, Joseph, who lives in Pleasant township, married Veronica Ricker, and they have five children, Clara, George, William, Albert and Paul ; Mary Anna is the wife of Henry Klemen and lives north of Ottawa, in Ottawa township; Henry, a farmer of Monroe township, near Continental, married Hannah Bensman, and they have three children, Alex, Marcella and Henry ; John unmarried, lives in Missouri; Charles, a farmer of Pleasant township, married Emma Ricker, and lives in Pleasant township, and they have one son, Rudolph; Josephine, the wife of Joseph Klemen, a farmer of Pleasant township, has three children, Peter, Alexander and Sylvester; Theresa is the wife of John Segar, a farmer of Pleasant township; Rosa, unmarried, lives at home. The mother of these children died on June 4, 1897, at the age of thirty-nine years and nine months.

Henry W. Ruhe was married, the second time, on June 20, 1898, to Mrs. Mary Anna (Fredericks) Fortman. She was born in Prussia, Hanover, Germany, a daughter of Bernard Henry Fredericks and wife. She came to America with her parents about 1874, and settled near Zanesville, Ohio, near Junction City, where she married Henry Felt. He died, leaving one son, Benny, now also deceased, his death occurring when he was fifteen years of age. Mrs. Felt afterward moved to Columbus Grove, and there married Henry Fortman, who was working for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway Company. They moved to Ottawa and lived in that city until Mr. Fortman's death, on December 18, 1886. There were two children born to this second marriage, Maria Anna, the wife of Isaac McDowell, who lives at Continental, and a son, who died in early infancy.

Henry W. Ruhe still lives on the same farm where he was born and where he grew to manhood. His farm has never been owned by anyone but his father and himself since the Indians gave way to the white men. The

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Ruhe family has cleared this land and has made a farm and home here, of which they are proud. They are well-known and highly respected in the community where they have lived so long.

The entire family are devoted members of the Catholic church at Glan- dorf. Mr. Ruhe's father helped to build the first log cabin church at Glan- dorf, where the first altar was erected by the pioneers in the wilderness. He also helped to build the second edifice and the third one, and his earthly life ended while he was in the church.

There are very few families who have contributed more to make Putnam county the rich agricultural section it is now, than that of the Ruhe family.

FRANK F. DROLL.

The following is a brief sketch of the life of one, who, by close atten- tion to business, has achieved marked success in the agricultural affairs of Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio. His career is a plain record rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful and lucky accident and no tragic situation. Frank F. Droll is one of those estimable characters whose integrity and strong personality have gained for them meritorious recognition which their modesty does not seek. He commands the respect of the people of Perry township, and has left his mark upon the generation in which he is now living.

Frank F. Droll was born on April 17, 1866, in Seneca county, Ohio. He is the son of George and Catherine (Brown) Droll.

George Droll was born in Germany, and came to America at the age of nineteen, with his parents, George and Gertrude Droll. They settled in Seneca county, Ohio, and were farmers there. George Droll, Jr., grew up on this farm and lived upon it until some time after his marriage. He, later, sold his property and moved to near New Riegel, in Seneca county, Ohio. Here he purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, and worked this land for some time. Later, he sold sixty acres and farmed the remaining one hundred and sixty acres until about twenty years before he died, when he moved to New Riegel, Ohio, and there passed his remaining days. He died on December 25, 1913, at the age of eighty-six years and five months, having been born on July 1I, 1825. His wife, before her marriage, was Catherine Brown, was born on January 1, 1833, and died April 18, 1914, at the age of eighty-one. She died at their home in New Riegel, Ohio, a much respected and greatly beloved woman.

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George, Jr., and Catherine (Brown) Droll were the parents of twelve children, Joseph is deceased; Mrs. Mary Brickner died in 1914; John lives on the homestead farm in Seneca county; Catherine was the fourth child; Mrs. Rosa Lichtle lives in Seneca county; Matilda is deceased; Frank F. is the subject of this sketch; William lives in Seneca county; Killian lives in Perry township, Putnam county; Edward lives in the West; Mrs. Anna Brant lives in Seneca county, and Mrs. Maggie Brant in Lorrain, Ohio. George Droll, Jr., was an ardent Democrat, and a member of the Catholic church at New Riegel. His wife, also, was a member of this church.

Frank F. Droll spent his boyhood days on the homestead farm in Seneca county, Ohio. He was educated there and reared as a farmer. He left home at the age of twenty-one years and worked out for a time. He came to Putnam county in April, 1896, and for a time lived with a brother, Killian, they having purchased a farm of eighty acres together, in Perry township, where Frank F now lives. Later, Killian sold his half interest to Frank F. Droll. After Mr. Droll married, he farmed the entire eighty acres. There was much timber on the farm when he bought the land. Mr. Droll did most of the clearing, fencing and ditching. Since purchasing the farm he has built a fine residence and a large, commodious barn, the latter erected July, 1909, is thirty-six by sixty-six feet. He owns a splendid home and the farm is neatly kept, which shows the fine progressive spirit of its owner. Mr. Droll is a hard worker and his success must be attributed to his unconquerable per- severance from the beginning. With the help of his faithful wife, he has gained a rather large competence, and has been entirely victorious in his struggle for success.

Frank F. Droll was married on November 18, 1896, to Matilda Shirack, who was born on August 27, 1870, in Van Wert county, Ohio. She is the daughter of John and, Catherine (Schulien) Shirack, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born June 24, 1840, and the latter on August 25, 1845. Both came to America with their parents when quite young, who settled in Seneca county, Ohio, where they farmed till their death. John Shirack grew up in Seneca county, Ohio, and was reared as a farmer and it was here that he received his education. Subsequently, he came to Van Wert county, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died on June 13, 19II, at the age of seventy years, eleven months and twenty days. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Catholic church at Ottoville, Ohio. His wife was also a member of that church. She died on December 19, 1906, at the age of sixty-one years and three months. They had nine children, John; Mrs. Mary Grubenhoff, of Ottoville, Monterey township, Putnam

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county ; Mrs. Catherine Eickholt, of Monterey township, Putnam county; Mrs. Frank F. Droll; Mrs. Anna Kehres, of Delphos; Mrs. Emma Sheibley, of Cloverdale; Mrs. Margaret Wannamacker, of Cloverdale; Joseph, of Delphos, and one who died in infancy.

To Frank F. and Matilda (Shirack) Droll eight children have been born : Raymond, on February 20, 1898; Edith, September 1, 1899; Eva, November 9, 1900; Alvira, March 16, 1903; Wilfred, October 27, 1905; Joseph, November 15, 1907; Mary, December 27, 1909, and Gertrude, No- vember 9, 1912. All of these children are living at home.

Frank F Droll is not a member of any lodge, and he has never aspired to office. He is a member of St. Barbara's Catholic church at Cloverdale, Ohio, as well as his wife and family. Frank F. Droll is a congenial man, easy-going in his manner, and sociable. He is a man of strong domestic habits, a home lover, a fine husband and father and a good provider. He bears a high reputation in the community where he lives.

JOHN H. KLEMAN.

It is a pleasure to the biographer to record the lives of prosperous men, men who have honored their community and who are loved by their fellow men. They inspire the coming generation, as well as the present, and justly deserved mention in such a work as this. One of the most influential citizens of Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, is John H. Kleman.

John H. Kleman was born on March 28, 1852, on the farm where he now lives in the southwestern part of Ottawa township. He is the son of Andrew and Mary C. (Gerdeman) Kleman. Andrew Kleman was born in Prussia in 1805, and was a trained soldier under the grandfather of the present German kaiser. He came to America about 1835 and located near, or at, Glandorf, Putnam county, when Indians were still in the vicinity. He was a farmer. Here he married Mary C. (Gerdeman) Utendorf, the widow of Joseph Utendorf, deceased. She was born in Hanover, Germany, in 18II, and came to America and spent her first winter at Toledo, at the time the first railroad reached that city. She then came to Glandorf and married Joseph Utendorf and they lived on the farm where John H. now lives until Mr. Utendorf's death. There were two children by her first marriage, Joseph and Mary Ann, the former dying in 1885. Mary Ann was the wife of J. W. Ellerbrock and died at Glandorf in 1912. After Mr. Utendorf died she and

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Mr. Kleman married and spent the rest of their lives on the farm which she owned. Here she died in 1882, her husband dying in 1859, leaving her with a family of children. She had seven by her second marriage, of whom three died before her husband. She and her children remained on the farm as long as she lived.

John H. Kleman was married to Mary Hueve in 1873. She was born northwest of Glandorf, the daughter of Joseph and Lisette (Claforn) Hueve. Her father was born in Prussia and came to America about 1840, at the age of sixteen, with his parents, Herman and Elizabeth Hueve. They located northwest of Glandorf when the country was still new.

Lisette Claforn was born in Hanover, Germany, and at the age of three was brought to America with her parents, who located southwest of Ottawa. Joseph Hueve and wife located in section 3 of Pleasant township, when Mrs. Kleman was about three years old. They located in the midst of the woods, as did the other pioneers and there spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. Hueve died in 1893 and her husband in May, 1899. They had a large family, of whom three died in infancy and three grew to maturity.

After John H. Kleman married, he continued farming where he now lives. He has served twice as land appraiser, in 1900, and again in 1910, and was trustee of Ottawa township from 1882 to 1887. Mr. Kleman has added to his original land holdings, as he was able, and now owns three hundred and ten acres. He has rebuilt his barns and houses and is a well- known and influential citizen.

John H. and Mary (Hueve) Kleman are the parents of ten children, Anna M., Joseph, Elizabeth M., Frank J., Veronica K., John, Lewis H., Carolina C., Albert L. and Adolph H. Anna M. was born on October 5, 1874, married Frank Smith. They live near Bryant, Indiana, and have seven children. Joseph G., March 8, 1876, married Lizzie Meyer. They live three miles northeast of Miller City and have four children; Elizabeth M., April 2, 1879, married John Liebrecht, and lives two miles south of Kalida. They have four children; Frank J., May 30, 1881, married November 17, 1914, to Anna Shekelhoff. They live one mile south of his father's farm; Veronica K., August 5, 1882, married to Joseph Reitz. They live at Oberlin, Ohio, have four children living; John, February 27, 1885, is still single, living at Toledo, Ohio; Lewis H., July 23, 1887, was married June 10, 1914, to Elizabeth Kreinbrink. They live just across the road from his father ; Caro- line C., January 2, 1890; Albert L., February 14, 1892; and Adolph H., November 13, 1895, all still resides at home.

John W. Kleman and family are devoted members of the Catholic

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church at Glandorf. He also belongs to the Holy Name society and the St. Joseph society. Mr. Kleman is broad-minded, hospitable, sociable and patriotic, a worthy son of Andrew Kleman, who was a king's guard in the old country and, in 1842, upon coming to America, was appointed captain of the home guards of Ohio and was always known as Captain Kleman.

WILLIAM SCHLAGBAUM.

There are many enterprises which bring almost immediate success, but few of such successes are lasting. It is not so with the farming enterprise, however. Prosperity comes, if it comes at all, after long years of labor, and after an almost desperate struggle against the elements and unforeseen backsets. The German farmers have taken hold of these difficulties with great zeal, and many of them are now the leading agriculturists of Putnam county, Ohio. The Schlagbaum family have always been highly respected in Putnam county. William Schlagbaum, especially, has been a successful farmer, and he is a man who, because of his enterprising habits, and his worthy ideals, is entitled to representation in a volume which undertakes to set forth the biographical history of Putnam county's representative citizens.

William Schlagbaum was born on July 17, 1863, in Monterey township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is a son of George and Dorothy ( Hille) Schlag- baum. George Schlagbaum was born in Prussia, and came to the United States when he was about twenty years old. He lived in Cincinnati for six years and was married in that city. His wife was a native of Germany, who came to the United States when about fifteen years old. George Schlagbaum and wife were the parents of ten children, five of whom lived to maturity, and four are now living: Barney, a resident of Monterey township in this county ; Lucy, the wife of Frank W. Helmkamp, whose life story is told elsewhere in this volume; Mary, the wife of Fred Vincke, of Ottoville, Ohio; Anna, deceased, was the wife Nicholas Bedink, of Ottoville; William, with whom this narrative deals.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 102

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1744

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744