History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 105

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 105

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John Ball was never married. He is not a member of any lodge and has held no offices except that of supervisor. He is a Democrat and is a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic church at North Creek. Mr. Ball follows gen- eral farming. He owns a thoroughbred Shorthorn cow and an imported Belgian mare.

Susanna Ball, his sister, was born on April 18, 1864, in Palmer town- ship on the homestead farm. She lives with her brother, John, and was educated in the No. 3 school of Palmer township. She is a good, capable, companionable woman and a keen manager. John Ball is a congenial man. He is a good farmer and is prosperous and progressive.

Henry Ball, the brother of John Ball, and the son of Ferdinand and Emeline (Gross) Ball, was born on March 23, 1852, in Stark county, Ohio. He came to Putnam county, this state, with his parents at the age of six years, and was reared a farmer, grew up and was educated at the district No. 3 school in Palmer township.

Henry Ball was married on May 26, 1903, to Mrs. Mary (Welch) Burkhart, who was born in Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio, and the daughter of James Welch and wife, natives of Ireland.

After the marriage of Henry Ball, he moved to sixty acres of land owned by his wife, in Liberty township, and farmed here for two years. His wife died on April 24, 1905, when the farm was sold. After this, Henry Ball came back to the homestead farm in Palmer township and here he has resided since that time with his brother, John, and sister, Susanna.

John Ball learned the carpenter trade when a young man and followed this trade for many years. He has erected many buildings in Palmer town- ship. He helped to build the parish buildings at Miller City, Ohio. Mr. Ball also farms in a general way and has eighty acres in section I, of Monroe township, and here he raises sugar beets. He also has forty acres in section 7, of Palmer township, which his brother, John, farms.

Henry Ball has no children. He is not a member of any lodges. He was township assessor for one year, in 1882, and is a Democrat in politics. He is a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic church at North Creek. Henry Ball is well liked in the community where he lives.

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GEORGE KRATZER.

There is no better known or more highly respected citizen of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, than George Kratzer, who was born on Oc- tober 17, 1845, at Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, the son of Charles and Margaret (Schumaker) Kratzer. Charles Kratzer was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and Margaret Schumaker was born in the same locality. They were married in America and lived in Fairfield county until George was past ten years of age. They next spent three years in Hancock county, Ohio, and, in February, 1859, moved to the Medary farm at Medary, Liberty town- ship, Putnam county.

On this place, Charles Kratzer died, in 1862, leaving a wife and nine children, Catherine Barbara, Charles W., Sarah, George, Samuel, Henry, Jacob F., John M. and Louise. Of these children four are dead, who were, Barbara, Louise, Henry and Charles. After the father's death, the mother bought forty acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 16 of Liberty township, where she lived from 1863 until her death, in 1895.

George Kratzer was reared on his mother's farm, after his father's death, and operated the home farm as long as his mother lived. He was married in 1881 to Mary Margaret Mack. She was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and came to Putnam county in infancy with her parents, Christian and Mary (Stiger ) Mack.

Christian Mack was born in Ohio and reared in Fairfield county. He was both a farmer and a wagonmaker. His wife was Mary Stiger, who was a native of Switzerland, and who came to America at the age of eight, with her parents. They settled near Basil, in Fairfield county, Ohio, in the early days, and purchased a farm south of that place. Christian Mack and family moved to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1858 and located in section 23, just west of West Leipsic, where he bought a farm and there lived until his death. He was township trustee several terms, also served as assessor of his township, township treasurer, and a member of the school board for many years. He was an active member of the Lutheran church and helped build the church of that denomination in Liberty township, as well as the one in Leipsic. He died on February 15, 1894, while his widow survived him until May, 1897. They were the parents of eight children who grew to maturity, Edward, Henry, George, Frederick, Franklin, Mrs. Margaret Kratzer, Mrs. Catherine Kratzer and Mrs. Sarah Hammon.

To George and Mary Margaret (Mack) Kratzer four children have been born, Leroy, Cora, Henry and Bertha M., deceased. Leroy, born in

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1884, married Mame Hall and is living at Wheeling, West Virginia; Cora E. married Charles Rosenberger and lives in Blanchard township; Henry Glen, in 1893, is also at home.

George Kratzer is the owner of one hundred acres of splendid farming land, on which he carries on a diversified system of general farming and stock raising with pronounced success. He and his family are members of St. John's Lutheran church, and Mr. Kratzer belongs to the Maccabees lodge. He is an adherent of the Democratic party, is highly respected in the com- munity where he lives, takes an active interest in public questions, and is well informed on all matters which pertain to the public welfare. For many years he has been a leader in Liberty township.

GEORGE LEINSETTER.

The Leinsetter family are of German ancestry and the first members are located in Putnam county, Ohio, about 1838, in which year the father of George Leinsetter entered a tract of government land in Liberty township. Mr. Leinsetter started out in the world in a very humble manner, working in his youth for fifty and seventy-five cents a day, which was considered big wages at that time. Many a day he worked from sun-up until sun-down, and in his early manhood cradled wheat day after day. He well remembers when his mother spun, wove and made his tow-linen clothes, and he was six- teen years old before he had his first factory-made suit. He has pulled, dried, broken and hackled flax and sat by his mother while she spun and wove the cloth for the family wardrobe. He still owns an old coverlet which his mother wove with her own hands, that today is as bright as it was when it was dyed by her hands.

George Leinsetter, the son of John A. and Elizabeth ( Krebs) Leinsetter, was born near the center of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, in 1851. His father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and at the age of nine came to America with his parents. The family first located in Baltimore, later went to Pennsylvania, and, in 1838, made their permanent home in Putnam county, Ohio, in Liberty tounty.

John A. Leinsetter grew to manhood in Liberty township and lived for a time with his brother-in-law, George Hagely, and later bought a farm which was covered. with heavy timber. He cleared the land and lived in the same neighborhood the remainder of his life. His wife, Elizabeth Krebs, was the

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daughter of John and Anna Krebs, who came from near Lewiston, Penn- sylvania, to Lorain county, Ohio, where she lived during her girlhood days. Her father was one of the first settlers in Liberty township in Putnam county, locating here about 1835, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where the Ottawa 'and Napoleon road crosses the Nickel Plate railroad. At that time the Indians were still here, and it was not until two years afterward that they moved across the Mississippi. Bears, deer and all kinds of small game were still abundant in the woods. The Indians made maple sugar at a sugar grove not far from where the family located. John A. Leinsetter had one hundred and twenty acres and farmed all of his life. He was a township trustee for two terms and a man who was highly regarded in the community where he lived. Seven children were born to John A. Leinsetter and wife, five of whom are living: George, John H., Jacob, Mrs. Anna H. Haughn and David. The deceased children are Catherine, who died at the age of two; Charles, who died on December 6, 1910.

Charles C. Leinsetter, who was born on the home farm in 1864, grew to manhood there, and after his marriage rented the home place from his parents while they lived and from the heirs after the farm was divided. He married Mary Easton in 1903, who was a native of Liberty township, the daughter of James and Esther (Terflinger) Easton. Her father was reared in Liberty township, and was a son of George Easton, an early settler of the county. Charles C. Leinsetter died on December 6, 1910, and his widow rented out the farm for three years and lived with her sister and brother-in- law. In February, 1914, she was married to John H. Leinsetter, and since that time she has made her home on the old Leinsetter homestead. John H. Leinsetter was born, October 13, 1858, on the old home farm, worked at home until of age, and spent about a year in Michigan. He then went west and spent five years and was in Oklahoma at the time it was opened for settlement. He made a little money by getting in early on the land opening, and came back to Putnam county and worked at the carpenter trade and made his home with his parents until they died, and afterward with his brother, Charles C. He owned land in Kansas, and now has a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Howell county, Missouri.

George Leinsetter worked at home at all kinds of farm work, logging, ditching, and all kinds of hard manual labor, working for fifty and seventy- five cents a day, considering it a good wage. He also spent about two years in western Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. After his marriage, he started in with only about forty acres, half of which was cleared. Later, he put the remainder in cultivation and has made a good little farm out of it. About

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eighteen years ago, he bought forty acres more, across the road south from his original farm, and later secured thirty acres from his father. Soon after this he purchased the shares of the other heirs of the estate. He and his wife have two children, and his son has been a great help to him on the farm.

George Leinsetter was married, in 1878, to Margaret Kuntz, who was born and reared in Switzerland, and came to this country with a relative when a girl soon after the Civil War. The two children of Mr. Leinsetter and wife are: Ida M. and Harvey A. Ida M. married Henry E. Mullett, and lives about three miles northwest of the old home. She has three chil- dren, Alvin, Bertha and Clarence; Harvey A. is helping his father with the work on the home farm. Mr. Leinstetter and his family are loyal members of the Lutheran church.

PHILIP SCHEY, JR.

The life of the farmer of today is the most independent existence that can be enjoyed. With all the modern inventions to facilitate farming, it is rapidly losing those objections which have always appeared so ominous to the average farmer lad. Again, the public school has taken cognizance of this subject, and today, in the schools of Ohio, farming is being taught and in many cases, given as much attention as arithmetic. Our colleges are granting degrees in agriculture, and farmers' short courses are being given everywhere. No better farming land can be found in the state than in Put- nam county, and among the many good agriculturists of the county there is none who has made more of a success of this time-honored occupation than Philip Schey, Jr.

Philip Schey, Jr., was born, November 27, 1858, on Elm Creek, seven miles south of Columbus, Ohio. He is a son of Philip Schey, Sr., and Cath- erine (Bouch) Schey, the life history of whom may be found elsewhere in this volume.

Philip Schey, Jr., was ten years of age when the family moved to near Medary, Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio. Here the lad bore his full share in the toil and hardships of the early settlers of the Black swamp. He lived at home until his marriage, assisting his father with the farm work, and thus early learning all the principles of good farming.

Philip Schey, Jr., was married in 1884 to Pauline Yenner, a sister of John Yenner, whose biography tells of Mrs. Schey's parentage. Mrs. Schey died in 1885, leaving one daughter, Cora Louise, the wife of John E. Hat-

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horn, who is school supervisor in the northwest part of Putnam county, and who lives at Continental. They have two daughters, Pauline and Mabel. Mr. Schey was married a second time to Magdalene Wirth, in 1886, who- was born in Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Samuel and Magdalena ( Bauer) Wirth. Samuel Wirth came from Breis- Darmstadt, Germany, about 1850, and first located at Columbus, Ohio, where he worked for a time in the quarries, getting out stone for the state house. He came to Liberty township, in this county, about 1852, and located in the southwest part of Liberty township, where he purchased a farm, and here he lived until about twelve years ago, when he moved to Holgate. Later he moved north of Holgate, where his wife died in 1906, after which Mr. Wirth spent the remaining years of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Schey, and died at her home, in October, 1912.

When a youth, Mr. Schey purchased eighty acres of land, but later sold half of this tract and began farming on the remainder, where he is now liv- ing. This land was partly cleared, but not drained. From the time of his marriage, Mr. Schey lived on this farm, and from an humble beginning he- has made his own way in the world, until he is now the owner of two hun- dred and sixty acres of fine farming land which is well improved with a neat and substantial brick house, equipped with a private lighting plant, with com- modious barns and other outbuildings, making it one of the best farms in the county.

Seven children have been born to Philip Schey, Jr., by his second mar- riage : George, who married Olive Hyde, lives just north of his father, and has one daughter, Catherine; Walter, who married Jessie Pickens, lives on a farm adjoining his father's, and they have two sons, Woodrow and Donald: Will, who married Mabel Kratzer, lives at home; Charles, of New Orleans; while Homer, Samuel and Amelia are living at home.

Philip Schey, Jr., has always taken an interest in public affairs in his community, and has held nearly all of the official positions in his township. At present he is township treasurer. He is a busy man always and faithful in his endeavor to improve, not only his own condition, but that of the com- munity as well. Mr. Schey and family are members of the Lutheran church, in which he especially is an active worker. He teaches a Bible class in both the Lutheran and Evangelical churches, the former in the morning and the latter in the afternoon of Sunday. In all respects he must be considered a representative citizen of Putnam county and one, therefore, entitled to rank among the progressive men of his day and generation, whose life histories

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are told in this volume. Mr. Schey is not only a man of influence in his community, but he is a man who has always wielded this influence for the public good.

PETER SCHEY.

Though Nature affords excellent opportunity for carrying on certain lines of labor in every locality, there is demanded of every man great indus- try and diligence, if he succeeds. Competition makes him put forth his best efforts and it requires great care to conduct any business enterprise along profitable lines. This is especially true of farming, and from the time of the earliest spring planting, until the crops are harvested, the farmer's life is a busy one. Even through the winter months, he prepares for the labors of the coming year and thus lays the foundation of his success for the ensu- ing season. Yet the farmer leads the most independent life and always has the satisfaction of getting a day off whenever he desires. Putnam county farmers are not excelled anywhere in the state, and among these excellent farmers is Peter Schey.

Peter Schey was born on July 14, 1862, at Elm Creek, Franklin county, Ohio, the son of Philip and Catherine (Bouch) Schey, the life history of whom is given on another page of this volume.

Peter Schey was a boy of seven years when the family moved to Liberty township, Putnam county. He lived on the home farm until he had attained his majority. He began farming for himself at this time and rented land for three years. Subsequently, he purchased forty acres in Henry county and lived there four years. He then moved back to Liberty township and sold out his farm holdings in Henry county and purchased the eighty acres where he now lives. At the time Mr. Schey purchased this land, there were few improvements on it. He erected a splendid house and commodious and comfortable barns. Mr. Schey has made out of this land a good farm. He purchased eighty acres more about 1906, and in 1912 he added forty acres, making two hundred acres, all in one body and all good land; in fact, no more fertile or more productive land can be found anywhere.

When a young man, Mr. Schey did some ditch contracting and hauling timber; in fact, he has never hesitated to do any honorable work which might bring him success. His first eighty-acre farm was purchased for forty- two dollars an acre in February, 1895; in 1907 he paid eighty-five dollars an acre, and in 1912 he paid one hundred and sixty dollars an acre, in all cases,

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getting practically no improvements except the bare land. Practically all of Mr. Schey's farm was a swamp and appeared absolutely worthless at the beginning, but since he has drained and improved it, no better land is to be found anywhere.

Peter Schey was married in March, 1893, to Lenna Hensel, who was born in Baden, Germany, and who is the daughter of John and Magdalene (Weaver) Hensel. She came to America with her mother at the age of eight years, her father having died in Germany, of smallpox, and her brother died on the way to America. The mother and seven children who arrived safely in America and located in Franklin county about twelve miles northwest of Columbus. There Mrs. Schey lived until her marriage. To this union five sons and one daughter have been born, John, Fred, Edward, Frank, Emil and Florence.

Peter Schey served three years on the school board and is now the trustee of Liberty township, Putnam county. He is also a trustee of the Mutual Telephone Company of Leipsic, a successful, co-operative company, the success of which has been due to a considerable degree to Mr. Schey's able directions, who, together with his family, are members of the Lutheran church. In Liberty township, where Peter Schey lives, his name means all of those things which stand for honor and respectability in the community. Mr. Schey and his brothers and all of their families are prominent in Liberty township and well known throughout Putnam county.

HENRY BECKMAN.

The rise from poverty to affluence has developed the character of many men living in Putnam county, Ohio. They have remained honest and loyal to their early interests, however, and are ever interested in the welfare of the community and in its progress. One of the most respected and pro- gressive farmers of this county is Henry Beckman, who lives south of Ot- tawa in Ottawa township. Henry Beckman is a son of Bernard Beckman, Sr., and Hannah M. (Shonhoff) Beckman.

Bernard Beckman, Sr., was a poor boy, and was in debt for his passage to America when he landed here. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on August 24, 1828, the son of John B. H. and Elizabeth (Barlage) Beckman. He came to Putnam county, Ohio, in December, 1848, and lived for a time at Glandorf. He was married in December, 1850, to Anna M. Schonhoff, who was also a native of Oldenburg, Germany, her birth having occurred there

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on November 2, 1832, the daughter of Herman H. and Mary A. (Wessel) Schonhoff. She came to America about 1849.

After Bernard Beckman, Sr., was married, he bought forty acres of land on the south side of Ottawa township, which was partly cleared. He paid six hundred dollars for this land, on which was a house, but not much else in the way of improvements. A short time before that, he bought two other forty-acre tracts, one for two hundred dollars and the other for four hundred dollars. He spent his life on his farm south of Ottawa. There were six children who grew to maturity, John, Bernard H., Henry, Mary B., Joseph and Elizabeth. The father of these children died on February 13, 1895, at the age of sixty-six, while his wife died on October 27, 1899, at the age of sixty-six. He and his family were devoted adherents of the Catholic church at Ottawa.

Henry Beckman grew to maturity on the farm where he was born. He was married on November II, 1891, to Anna Kleform. She was born in Ottawa township, just south of Ottawa, the daughter of John and Catherine (Recker) Kleform. John Kleform was born and readed on the farm where Mrs. Beckman was born. He was a son of Gerhardt and Elizabeth ( Sponhoff) Kleform, who settled in Putnam county in 1837. Catherine Recker was born in 1850, the daughter of H. H. and Mary Recker, who came to Putnam county in 1835. John Kleform and wife were married at Glandorf in 1867, and spent the remainder of their lives on the farm where Mrs. Beckman was born.

Ever since Henry Beckman was married he has farmed the home place. His father was a cripple, for probably thirty-five years, before his death, and from the time Henry Beckman was sixteen years old, he has operated the farm. After his marriage, his parents lived with him until they died. Henry Beckman has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and for seven years served as township trustee of Ottawa township, a position which he filled with exceptional ability, winning the approval of the citizens of the entire township.

Henry and Anna (Kleform) Beckman are the parents of five children living and two who died in infancy. Those living are Loretta, Philomina, Salome, Elmer and Hubert. Loretta is the wife of William Rieman, and lives northeast of Ottawa. She has one daughter, Lucile; Philomina is the wife of John Selhorst, and lives in Pleasant township.

Henry Beckman is a large, broad-shouldered man of splendid physique, candid and outspoken in his manner and more inclined to do a favor than to promise it. Naturally, he is a highly-respected citizen of the community

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where he resides. Mr. Beckman still has the spinning wheel which his mother used and also he has an old flail of pioneer pattern, which is always an object of interest to visitors. He, with his family, are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic church at Ottawa. He at present farms one hundred and seventeen acres, all of which is located in Ottawa and Pleasant township. Mr. Beckman raises a great deal of poultry and now has almost three hun- dred chickens on the farm of all kinds. He sells quite a number and has been very successful.

PHILIP SCHEY, SR.

A review of the life of the honored and lamented Philip Schey, Sr., must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of his career, touching the struggles of his early man- hood and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the range of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and generation, and the luster of his good deeds, and the memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of the community where he did his work and achieved his success. He is entitled to the honorable position he long occupied among the brave and energetic self-made men of Putnam county, Ohio, who, by enterprise and unswerving integrity, forged to the front, surmounting all opposition and winning for the grand old Buckeye state a place second to none in the bright constellation which comprises the union of American states. That he did his work nobly and well cannot be gainsaid, and though dead, he yet speaks in the work which he founded and in the many kindly deeds and noble influence which not only his friends, but the community as well, prize as a grateful heritage.

Philip Schey, Sr., was born in Preisen-Darmstadt, Germany, on Septem- ber 22, 1832. He came to America first at the age of fourteen, and after spending several years in this county, returned to his native land, but again, at the age of twenty-five, returned to the United States, locating south of Columbus, Ohio.

It was while living here that Mr. Schey was married on November 25, 1856, to Catherine Bouch, who was also a native of Germany, her birth hav- ing occurred in Wurttemberg, June 1, 1831, and who was a daughter of Jacob and Magdaline (Walter) Bouch. She came to America with her brother, Philip Bouch, while a small girl.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 105

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