History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 113

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 113

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Chester L. Simon's father, Lewis Simon, has been twice married. He was married the first time on April 13, 1861, to Barbara M. Dangler, the daughter of George and Fannie (Fender) Dangler. Four children were born to this union, Anna, who married H. J. Kirkendall; Veronica, who- married George Ridenour ; John A. and Barbara M., who died in infancy. Mrs. Barbara Simon died on May 11, 1868, and Mr. Simon was married a second time, on March 18, 1870, to Jennie Apger, the daughter of John R. and Elizabeth Apger, and a native of Carroll county, Ohio, born on Febru- ary 10, 1847. To this marriage were born seven children, Mary L., who died on October 31, 1876; Charles E., Chester L., the subject of this sketch;

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Ora A., Lewis W., Blanche, Ralph B. and an infant that died unnamed. Lewis Simon is still living on the farm, although his age has prevented active work for several years. He is a member of the Masonic lodge No. 325, at Ottawa.

Chester L. Simon's mother, the second wife of Lewis Simon, is de- scended from illustrious ancestors. Her father, John R. Apger, was born in New Jersey in 1816, the son of Isaac Apger, a native of New Jersey and of English descent. Isaac Apger was a pioneer farmer of Carroll county, Ohio, and moved to Wood county in 1847. He died in this county some time in the fifties. John R. Apger was educated in New Jersey and was reared as a farmer. He learned the shoemaker trade and worked at it off and on. He married Elizabeth Atchley in 1837, a daughter of Isaac and Anna (Van Horn) Atchley, natives of New Jersey, who later removed to New York. To this union were born seven children: Mary C .; Mrs. Lewis Simon; Marion N .; Isaac N., deceased; Anderson S., who was a soldier in the Civil War; Alletty A., deceased, and Elizabeth, also deceased. Mrs. Elizabeth Apger was born in New Jersey, in 1812, and moved with her par- ents to New York, where she was married. Mr. Apger settled in Carroll county in 1865, where he farmed for ten years and then moved to Wood county. Here he entered a tract of land, which he cleared and improved. In the meantime he taught school. Mrs. John R. Apger died March 25, 1865, and Mr: Apger was married a second time, in Wood county, in 1866, to Mrs. Matilda Wyckoff, and four children were born to this last mar- riage, Benton, Earl J., Cloise and Blanche. Mr. Apger was a Democrat in politics. He died on May 12, 1882, and at this time was an active and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Chester L. Simon was educated in the Greensburg township public schools and farmed on his father's farm until he was married. His mar- riage took place on January 30, 1898, when he was united to Maude Jen- kins, the daughter of David and Nancy (Sackett) Jenkins, of Continental, Ohio. After their marriage, Mr. Simon remained on the homestead for a time and then moved to a farm of eighty acres in section 33 of Palmer township. Forty acres of this land was available for farming. This tract formerly belonged to Chester L. Simon's father. Mr. Simon had a house built before moving to the farm and a barn also, and then fenced the land, drained it and cleared twenty-seven acres.

To Chester L. and Maude (Jenkins) Simon three children were born: Edna, Gale and Lowell.

Mrs. Maude (Jenkins) Simon died in January, 1908, and in March,

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1911, Mr. Simon was married a second time, to Carrie Halbgwoks, the daughter of John Halbgwoks, of Monroe township, Putnam county. No children have been born to this second marriage.

Of Mr. Simon's children by his first marriage, Edna attends high school at Continental and Lowell attends school in Greensburg township.

Chester L. Simon is identified with the Democratic party, but is more or less independent in voting. Mrs. Simon is a member of the United Brethren church at Forest Grove.

Chester L. Simon has a well-kept farm. He is progressive in his ideas and is rated in the community as a very good farmer. He is highly re- spected and belongs to one of the oldest families in Putnam county.

CHRIST STEFFEN.

The desire for home and comfort enables men to endure bravely almost any privation or misfortune. When success has come and the hardest strug- gle is over, men look back and remember between smiles and tears all the incidents, happy and sad, of the struggle. Christ Steffen, a farmer of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, has made a brave fight to attain his present degree of success.

Christ Steffen was born in 1852, in Germany. At the age of six months he came to America with his parents, Jacob and Gertrude Steffen. They came to Tiffin, Ohio, and lived there until his parents died. The father died soon after coming to this country and, seven years later, the mother died.

Christ Steffen was cared for during his childhood by his relatives, who moved near to Bavaria, Ohio, two years later, and there he received his edu- cation, attending the public schools until he was twelve years of age. After this he lived with a sister and her husband at Kalida until he grew to man- hood.

Christ Steffen was married in 1877, at Glandorf, to Veronica Hueve, who was born at Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, the daughter of Barney and Theresia (Winkelman) Hueve. Barney Hueve was born in Hanover, Germany, who came to the United States with his parents about the age of eighteen, and settled at Glandorf about the year 1840. Barney Hueve and wife lived at Glandorf all their lives. He was a farmer and also operated a brick yard at this place. About a year after Mr. Steffen's marriage, he and his wife moved to Liberty township, where they bought eighty acres of land,

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all in woods and very swampy. That was about thirty-eight years ago, and at that time deer were to be seen, and wild turkeys were as common as tame turkeys are now. Mr. Steffen cleared and drained his land, a tremendous undertaking, and developed, out of this eighty acres, a good farm. He now has the original acres, and has added two hundred acres more, all clear of encumbrance. Mr. Steffen has been reasonably free from misfortunes and has worked and managed carefully for his present success. He clearly re- members the early days and the work, hardships and privations of those times.

To Christ and Veronica (Hueve) Steffen seven children have been born, Amos, Mollie, Nora, Frances, Alexander, Leo and Jerome. Amos married Nora Heinel and lives in Van Buren township, who have two children, Clement and Gladys; Mollie is the wife of Sebastian Schieber, a farmer of Palmer township, and they have three children, Rosa, Urban and Albert; Alex was married, first, to Adeline Schmenk, who died, leaving one daughter, Alfreda. Alex afterward married Bertha Noirot, and lives in Palmer town- ship; Nora is the wife of John Steffes, a farmer of Palmer township, and they have two children, Isabelle and Leonard, and Frances is the wife of Charles Burkhart and lives in Defiance.

Christ Steffen is a member of the Democratic party. He and his family are devoted and loyal members of the St. Nicholas's Catholic church at Miller City and contribute liberally to the support of this denomination. Christ Steffen and wife and their family are prominent in the community where they live, being interested in all good works and taking an active part in promoting them.

MARTIN BALL.

Although Martin Ball represents the third generation of the Ball fam- ily in America, his father and his grandfather were born in Germany. Mar- tin Ball himself, therefore, is the first generation of the Ball family born in this country. Martin Ball owns forty acres of land in Palmer township, which he received from his father. Here he has erected buildings and other- wise improved the land in many particulars. Aside from the forty acres which Mr. Ball owns, he also leases and farms eighty acres which belong to his brother, George, of North Creek. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Ball was engaged in farming land adjoining the farm upon which he now lives, and which he has since purchased.

Martin Ball was born on his father's farm in Palmer township, where

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John Ball now lives, on October 18, 1868. His parents were Ferdinand and Emeline (Gross) Ball, the former of whom was born on August 25, 1825, in Germany, and who came to America with his parents, Barney and Mary M. Ball, when very young. Barney and Mary M. Ball settled on a farm in Stark county, and later moved to Palmer township, Putnam county, and settled on forty acres which had been school land. Here they lived the re- mainder of their lives. Their children were Barney, George, Mathias, John and Ferdinand. All of these children are now deceased, with the exception of John. Ferdinand Ball married Emeline Gross, May 13, 1845. She was a native of Luxemburg, Germany, born on January 10, 1831, and came to America with her parents when very young. They also settled in Stark county, Ohio. She was reared and educated there, and after her marriage moved with her husband to Putnam county. Ferdinand Ball had learned the blacksmith trade and established a shop on his farm. He devoted a part of his time to blacksmithing and a part to farming. By hard work, he increased his original farm of forty acres to about two hundred acres. He also acquired a farm of forty acres in Monroe township. In later years he retired from blacksmithing and devoted practically all of his time to farm- ing. During the last year of the Civil War he enlisted in the Sixty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and rendered commendable service. At the close of the war he returned to Putnam county. He took an active in- terest in the civic welfare of the county during his lifetime, but, neverthe- less, was indifferent to politics. He devoted most of his time to his farm and the welfare of his family. Before his death, which occurred on January 16, 1910, he distributed his farms among his children. Mrs. Ferdinand Ball died on December 26, 1895. She was a loyal and faithful help- mate and did her part in behalf of the family fortune and future. Ferdi- nand Ball and his wife were highly esteemed people. Their children were Henry, John, Mary, George, William, Catherine (deceased), Susanna and Martin, the subject of this sketch. Henry and John live on the old home- stead, in Palmer township; George is a merchant at North Creek; William is a farmer in Palmer township; Mary is now a Mrs. Engleman, of Palmer township; Susanna is unmarried and lives on the home place. The late Ferdinand Ball and his wife for years attended the Sacred Heart Catholic church at New Bavaria, and later attended St. Joseph's church at North Creek. Mr. Ball gave the three acres of ground upon which St. Joseph's church is constructed. He had also contributed liberally to its support. Both he and his wife died on the farm where they had settled.

Martin Ball was educated in the old district No. 3 school of Palmer

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township. He lived on his father's farm until his marriage, which took place on January 1I, 1898. Mr. Ball was married to Jennie Mollette, the daughter of Henry and Jane (Crago) Mollette, the former of whom was a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and the latter of Napoleon, Ohio. They were married at Napoleon and after their marriage lived at McClure. Subse- quently, they moved to Palmer township, and in January, 1905, moved to Florida. They had six children: Philip, Mrs. Jennie Ball, Edward, Alma, William and Grace. Philip, Alma and Edward live in Henry county; Grace lives in Nassau county, Florida, with her parents.

Martin and Jennie (Mollette) Ball have eight children, all of whom are living at home. They are as follow: Gertrude, born on September 3, 1899; Guy, August 16, 1901 ; Hildegarde, March 1, 1904; Virgil, August 18, 1905; Ferdinand, April 3, 1908; Leo, February 5, 1910; Blanche, July 30, 19II, and Magdalene, September 8, 1913.

Martin Ball is an able citizen in every respect. He is a substantial farmer, and a Democrat. The Ball family belongs to the St. Joseph's Catholic church at North Creek, and are prominent members of this church. Those of the children who go to school attend district school No. 3 in Palmer township.

PETER WILLIAMS.

Among those who are eminently entitled to a place in a work of this character is Peter Williams, a well-known farmer of Palmer township, Put- nam county, Ohio. Mr. Williams has performed well his part in the drama of civilization and has led a life that is exemplary in every respect. He has set an excellent example to the younger generation, and has been a leader in his county in all matters pertaining to the upbuilding of the community. He has done what good he could in all lines and has labored not only for the ad- vancement of his own interests, but for the welfare and advancement of his section of the county. Mr. Williams is well known in his township, and en- joys the confidence and esteem of all his neighbors.

Peter Williams was born on December 19, 1861, in Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio, and is a son of Michael and Mary Ann (Frankhart) Williams, who were both natives of Germany. Mrs. Mary Ann (Frankhart) Williams came from Germany with her parents to America, and the family located on a farm in Seneca county, Ohio. The family consisted of the fol- lowing children : Nicholas, Mary Ann, Jane, John, Catherine and John N.

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Michael Williams came from Germany in an early day and also located in Seneca county, Ohio, and after his marriage to Mary Ann Frankhart, settled on a farm in that county, where he lived for a number of years, and later moved to Putnam county to a farm of eighty acres. To this farm he subsequently added more acreage from time to time until he owned one hun- dred and twenty acres of good farming land. Michael Williams and wife were the parents of the following children : Tillie, Margaret, John, Jacob, Peter, Mary, Michael, Catherine Emma, Joseph, and two who died in infancy. Tillie and Joseph are also deceased. The mother of these children died in Landick, Ohio, while the father died in Palmer township, Putnam county. All the family were devout members of the Catholic church. Michael M. Williams was a Democrat and served as township treasurer for a number of years.

Peter Williams was educated in the schools of Palmer township and, be- fore his marriage, worked on a farm. He also operated a saw-mill in part- nership with his brother, John. This mill was located in Palmer township, and was operated for a number of years. Mr. Williams was married on September 12, 1893, to Alice L. King, the daughter of Solomon and Mary Katherine (Liese) King.

Solomon King was born in Fairfield county, Ohio; his wife was born in Sandusky, Ohio, and after their marriage they moved to Putnam county, Ohio, where they lived on a farm until Mr. King's death. His widow after- ward moved to Wood county, Ohio, and from there to Lucas county, Ohio, and still later to Ontario, Canada, where she is still living. Solomon King and wife were the parents of the following children: Alice, Malinda, Ida Jane, Otho, Charles, Champ, Nora P. and Fred. Of this number Alice, Malinda, Charles and Nora are deceased. Those living make their home in Canada.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Williams moved to a farm consist- ing of thirty-five and one-half acres in section 9, of Palmer township. This farm Mr. Williams purchased before his marriage, and here he erected build- ings and cleared and improved the land, bringing the farm to a high state of cultivation. Peter and Alice L. (King) Williams were the parents of two children, Howard P., born on August 16, 1895, and Glen W., on October 17, 1897. The mother of these children died March 5, 1914, and was buried in the North Creek cemetery. She was eminently respected in her neighbor- hood, a good mother and a faithful and devoted wife.

Mr. Williams still lives on the farm where he settled soon after his mar- riage. His two sons assist their father on the farm. They are bright

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and industrious boys, of whom their father is justly proud. Mr. Williams. is engaged in general farming and has met with a very fair degree of success in his operations, being a man of sterling integrity, and known to be a stanch and honorable citizen, respected by all.

Mr. Williams is a Democrat in politics, served his fellow citizens as. township assessor for three years, and has also served on the school board of his township. His two sons were educated in the township schools, and Howard was a student in the high school at Miller City. The family are earnest and devout members of the Catholic church, in which denomination they are deeply interested.

HENRY BURKHART.

The Burkhart family is a very old one in Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio. Representatives of the family came to this county when it was a swamp and wilderness and developed good farms. Henry Burk- hart's father farmed the same land and lived in the same house in which Henry Burkhart and his wife now live. Henry Burkhart himself owns a splendid farm of eighty acres in Palmer township, which was deeded to him by his father. It comprises a part of his father's estate. Henry Burk- hart has always lived here, and has always occupied the old homestead. He applies himself industriously and intelligently as a farmer and is a hard- working, conscientious citizen. Henry Burkhart and wife had the misfor- tune to lose three children in 1913. It was a sad event and one which called forth the sympathy of all their neighbors and friends. The Burkharts are not only good farmers, but they are highly respected citizens.

Henry Burkhart was born on April 22, 1868, in Palmer township. His parents were John and Gertrude (Pfeiffer) Burkhart.

Henry Burkhart was educated in Palmer township, and grew up on his father's farm. He materially assisted in the development and improvement of this farm, and during his youth performed at least his share of the work on the farm. He applied himself industriously to tasks allotted to him.

Henry Burkhart was married on September 17, 1897, to Mary Klin- shirn, daughter of John and Mary (Kramer) Klinshirn. Mary was one of eleven children born to her parents. Henry and Mary (Klinshirn) Burk- hart have had nine children, three of whom are deceased: Herman, the eldest, deceased; Viola, deceased; Cletis, deceased; Herman was the first, Viola the fourth and Cletis the eighth child born to the parents. The living

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children are Joseph, Delphine, Loretta, Albert, Virgil and Clarence. Al- bert and Loretta are attending school.

Henry Burkhart's father, John Burkhart, was born in Germany and came to America at the age of twelve years, with his parents. They set- tled in Lorain county, Ohio, where he was educated and where he was mar- ried to Gertrude Pfeiffer. After their marriage, they followed farming for a time in that county, and later they removed to Palmer township, Put- nam county, where he purchased eighty acres of land. This tract was in- creased by the addition of eighty acres in section 3, at a time when this part of Putnam county was a dense wilderness, heavily timbered and with scarcely any roads. It was necessary to overcome many obstacles to suc- ceed in farming. John Burkhart cleared and drained the land and erected the buildings. At the time of his arrival in Putnam county the land was especially swampy. Later he purchased thirty acres more, in section 12, and at the time of his death he had a total of one hundred and ninety acres. He lived a life of great activity and unfailing industry. During the latter years of his life he lived retired, having divided most of his land among his children. He passed away on April 24, 1903. His wife, however, had died many years previously, October 5, 1889. They had twelve children: John, Elizabeth and Nicholas, the three eldest children, are deceased; Christ is now living in Florida; Mrs. Catherine Jackman lives at Fostoria, Ohio; Peter is deceased; Henry is the subject of this sketch; William lives in Henry county ; Joseph is deceased; Mrs. Mary Little lives in Palmer town- ship; Frank is deceased, and one child died in infancy.

Henry Burkhart's paternal grandparents were natives of Prussia. His grandfather was Nicholas Burkhart, who came to America with his family and settled in Lorain county, where they lived for many years, and where they died. They were sterling German citizens and pioneers in Lorain county, having been considered among the substantial citizens of their day and generation. They had three sons and three daughters, all of whom are now deceased. The sons were Christian, Peter and John.

Henry Burkhart's maternal grandparents were also natives of Prussia. The maternal grandfather came to America with his family and settled in Lorain county. Their daughter, Gertrude Pfeiffer, was very young at the time. Mrs. Gertrude (Pfeiffer) Burkhart had been born in the same prov- ince as her father. Mrs. Burkhart's parents were both born in Germany. Her maternal grandparents were Henry Kramer and wife, natives of Ger- many, who came to America when their daughter Mary, the mother of Mr. Burkhart's wife, was but twelve years old. They settled in Lorain county,

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and there died on a farm. Mrs. Burkhart's parents married in Lorain county, and after their marriage moved to Henry county, where they set- tled on a farm. They first owned forty acres and later sold this farm and purchased one hundred acres in Pleasant township. Here John Klinshirn lived until his death. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Sacred Heart church at New Bavaria, Henry county. His wife is still living on the old homestead in Henry county, and is a member of the same church. His death occurred in 1900, when he was sixty-three years old. Mrs. Klinshirn is now about seventy-five years of age. She was born on December 8, 1839. Six of their eleven children are deceased. The deceased children are: John, who died in infancy, and a second child named John; Michael and Margaret, the fifth and sixth born; Peter, the eighth born, and Henry, the tenth born. George, the third child born, is living in Henry county, Ohio; Jacob, who was born after George, is living in Defiance county; Catherine, the seventh child, married a Mr. Westrick and lives in Henry county ; Mary is the wife of Mr. Burkhart; Theresa, the youngest child, also married a Mr. Westrick, and lives in Henry county.

Henry Burkhart is a Democrat, but has never been especially active in politics, and is not active now. The family are members of the Sacred Heart Catholic church at New Bavaria. Mrs. Burkhart is a member of the Mothers' Society and prominent in its affairs. Henry Burkhart is a quiet and unassuming man, is a worthy citizen and is accorded this rank by his neighbors, with whom he is quite popular.

LAWRENCE SEIMET.

It must be interesting to note, in the series of personal sketches appearing in this volume, the varying conditions that have surrounded those whose careers are here given. An effort has been made to throw light upon the individuality of the individual and to bring into proper perspective the scheme of each career. Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activities, deserves recognition whatever may be his field of endeavor. It is the function of a work of this nature to perpetuate, for future generations, an authentic record of those represented in these pages. No occupation is more important to our present scheme of society than that of farming and Lawrence Seimet is one of the leading farmers of Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio.

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Lawrence Seimet was born on April 19, 1870, near New Riegel, Ohio. He is the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Moreo) Seimet. Nicholas Seimet was born in the Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany, where his wife was also. born in Germany. Nicholas Seimet came to America at the age of eighteen years. He learned the tailor's trade in Germany and was educated there. He had relatives near Delphos, Ohio, and came there to the home of his brother-in-law, Adam Stark, where he engaged in farming and also spent two seasons in Illinois as a farmer. He was married on January 24, 1861, to Elizabeth Moreo after which they moved to a farm near Delphos, where they lived for two years. Mr. Seimet then worked as a boatman on the canal and later moved to Henry county, Ohio, and lived on a farm of forty acres. He sold this farm and purchased eighty acres in Henry county which he later sold. About 1903 he moved to Leipsic, Ohio, where he purchased a house and lot, and where he lived for two years, and then moved to a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres in Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio, which he had previously purchased. He remained on this farm until 1912, at which time he sold it and moved again to Leipsic, where he purchased city property, and where he now lives retired.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 113

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