History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 116

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 116

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continued in this business until his death. His wife still survives and lives in Holgate, Ohio. She was married a second time to Frank M. Smith. Fred Baker was not a member of any lodge and had held no public offices. He was a member of the German Reformed church. Fred and Minnie Baker had three children, Emma, William and Ruth, the wife of Mr. Burill; Emma married John Aden and lives at Holgate, Ohio, and William also lives at Holgate.

After his marriage, Mr. Burill moved to a farm in Palmer township, where he worked by the year for Benjamin F. Shafer. Later, he moved to Holgate, Ohio, and was employed in the tile-mill there. Subsequently, he moved to a forty-acre tract of land in section 6, of Palmer township, one- half mile west of his father's homestead farm, which forty acres was later deeded to him by his father. He came to this farm on December 1, 1914, cleared a portion of it and is contemplating the erection of a home. The farm is well located and consists of good soil.

Ernest Burill is an ardent farmer. He is not a member of any lodge and has held no offices. Mr. Burill is identified with the Democratic party, but has never been active in its councils. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed church. Ernest is a progressive young farmer, a hard worker, congenial and well-liked by the people of his neighborhood. He is a young man who deserves special recognition in a work of this char- acter.

ROBERT BENNETT LAYTON.

One of the best-known and most enterprising of the younger farmers of Putnam county, Ohio, and Perry township, is Robert Bennett Layton, now in the very prime of life and usefulness. His influence as an honorable and upright citizen is productive of much good upon all with whom he comes in contact. His past success gives assurance of something yet to come. He is evidently destined to continue a potent factor for substantial good for many years to come. Mr. Layton owns splendid farming land in Perry township, which he operates in a manner that proves that he is fully acquainted with twentieth-century methods of farming.

Robert Bennett Layton was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, on January 16, 1870. He is the son of John Rush and Hannah Isabel ( Bennett) Layton.

John Rush Layton, father of Robert B., died in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, February 15, 1914. He was at one time president of the Commercial Na-

ROBERT B. LAYTON.

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tional Bank, of Upper Sandusky. John R. Layton was a native of Pennsyl- vania, having been born in Bedford county on August 13, 1831. His par- ents were Moses B. and Susan (Rolin) Layton. His father was of English and Scottish extraction and was a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared on a farm. He married Susan Rolin, and in 1832 emi- grated to Knox county, remaining there for almost two years. About 1834 he moved to Erie county and rented a farm. He followed farming until in 1835, when his wife died. Putting his four children into homes in San- dusky, he went to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and engaged in the butcher business until in 1840, when he went to Marion, Ohio, and purchased a farm, on which he remained until 1851, when he sold out and again broke up house- keeping. Then, for five years, he was engaged in buying and shipping live stock. Coming to Upper Sandusky, he purchased a home and for a time con- ducted a hotel at that place. He was married again about this time, when he purchased a farm west of Upper Sandusky. This place he operated until 1860, when he sold it to his son, John Rush Layton, but for a year longer he continued to make it his home. In the fall of 1861, feeling that he was needed in the military service of his country, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He was later made wagon master and served in that position for one year, when, on account of ill health, he was mustered out of service. A few months later, however, he re-enlisted, this time in the Sixty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served in Virginia as ambulance master. After the battle of Gettysburg he was detailed to transport the wounded to Jersey City, New Jersey. Not long afterward, in 1864, he received an honorable discharge and returned to Ohio, making his home, as before, with John R. Layton, his son. The fol- lowing year he went to Putnam county, where he purchased a farm, on which place he passed the remainder of his days. While on a trip through Pennsyl- vania, September 29, 1889, he was smothered by gas in his room in a hotel. At the time of his death he was eighty-two years old. His remains were brought back to his Ohio home for interment. He was an active man, self- made, and though he made money, he lived fully up to his earnings. He was a Republican, although not active in party matters, and was a member of the Christian church. The first wife of Mr. Layton and the mother of John Rush Layton was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and died in Erie county, at the age of twenty-five as the result of a severe cold. Four chil- dren were born to Moses B. and Susan Layton, as follow: Mary, who mar- ried a Mr. Davis; Isabelle, who died in 1863; John R., the father of Robert B., and Matilda, a resident of Putnam county.

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John Rush Layton was but five years of age when his mother died. He went to live with a man by the name of Willis, at Sandusky, in whose fam- ily he remained for nearly two years, when his father took him to Mt. Ver- non, where he remanied until the spring of 1840, at which time he went to. Indiana, locating near Covington, and the following winter chopped cord- wood for fifty cents a day. The next spring he went to Illinois and for eight years rented a farm in Vermilion county, where he was fairly successful, and by hard toil and rigid economy managed to save twenty-five hundred dollars. In December, 1859, he returned to Ohio and purchased his father's farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres, adjoining the corporation of Upper Sandusky. As his father did not have the farm entirely paid for, John Rush Layton was obliged to go in debt over three thousand dollars. He re- mained on this place and, by persistent effort, was able to pay off the indebt- edness. When his farm was cleared of this incumbrance he branched out into the live stock business, which he not only bought, sold and shipped at dicerent times, but also bought considerable wool. He built an elevator and handled grain for twenty-five years, during all of which transactions he maintained an active supervision of his farm interests. He was one of the stockholders and organizers in the Ohio Thresher and Engine Company. Later he disposed of his stock in this company, and during the gas boom in his neighborhood sold ninety-seven acres of his land for two hundred dollars an acre, and afterward bought it back for seventy-five dollars an acre. He has also purchased other agricultural property, so that he now owns one hun- dred and ninety acres, comprising the home farm, one hundred and sixty acres. west of the first tract and two hundred and fifty acres in Putnam county.

On January 1, 1895, John Rush Layton assisted in the organization of the Commercial Bank, a private banking institution of Upper Sandusky. On July 5, 1900, the institution was nationalized and opened for business under the name of the Commercial National Bank. Mr. Layton had for three years served as president of the old bank, and after the reorganization re- tained the position until January 8, 1902, at which time he tendered his resig- nation, that he might the better devote his time to private matters. When the old Wyandot Bank failed, Mr. Layton was appointed receiver and satis- factorily performed the onerous duties of that position. It required about six years to close up the affairs of the defunct bank.

John Rush Layton was married on January 1, 1861, to Hannah I. Ben- nett, of Upper Sandusky. She was born on August 25, 1844, and was the daughter of David and Phoebe Bennett. This union was a happy one and was blessed by ten children: Laura, deceased, who married Milton M. Hol-

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lanshean; John Brough, who is a merchant at Marion; Alonzo, who lives at Jefferson; Charles Henry, deceased, who was a bookkeeper in the Commer- cial National Bank at Upper Sandusky; Hugh Delbert, of Upper Sandusky ; Robert Bennett, the subject of this sketch; Phoebe Grace, who married Ar- lington E. Coen, of Bowling Green, Ohio; Moses Bishop, who lives at Rath- drum, Idaho; Walter Earl, deceased, who attended Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, and Mrs. Susie Blanche Gates, who lives at Detroit, Michigan.

Mrs. Hannah I. Layton survives her husband and lives in Upper San- dusky. She and her two daughters and two of her sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, John Rush Layton was a Repub- lican, although he never took an active part in politics. The Layton family are all popular among their acquaintances. John Rush Layton truly obtained an enviable standing among his business associates. He was the architect of his own fortune and builded wisely and well. The success which crowned his efforts was richly deserved.

Educated in the Upper Sandusky schools, which course was supplemented by a course in the high school of Upper Sandusky, Robert B. Layton moved, December 17, 1908, from his home place in Upper Sandusky to Perry town- ship, Putnam county, where his father had acquired an extensive tract of land close to and adjoining the Blanchard river in section 14. Here Robert B. Layton has continued to reside. Subsequently he acquired land of his own and now owns and rents two hundred and forty-four acres. He follows general farming. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, when the call came for volunteers, Robert B. Layton was one of the first to respond. He served during the term of his enlistment in a creditable manner.

Robert B. Layton is active not only in agriculture but in the business af- fairs of the community. He is president of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company and was recently appointed by Governor Willis as county district tax assessor of Putnam county. This was a deserved honor in consideration of the efforts of Mr. Layton in behalf of the success of the Republican party.

On September 14, 1901, Robert B. Layton was married, in Greenville, Ohio, to Etta Elizabeth Kilgore, who was born in Bayonne, New Jer- sey, on March 24, 1881, and who is the daughter of Isaac Chapman and Katherine Ann (Harrison) Kilgore, the former of whom was born on March 4, 1849, in Virginia, and the latter born on January 8, 1861, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Both are still living. They were the parents of five children, Fred- erick Chapman, Bessie May, Etta Elizabeth, Harrison Morton and Leo Rob- ert. Mr. and Mrs. Layton have no children.

Robert B. Layton is well known as a congenial, progressive and intel-

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ligent citizen of Putnam county. He is socially agreeable and is well liked by the people about him, where he is well known. He stands high in the busi- ness and social life of the community, and has a fine farm, well located, which shows signs of careful farming. Mr. Layton's business address is at Con- tinental, Ohio, where his plans contemplate moving his residence and rent- ing out his farm.

Mr. Layton is identified with the Republican party, he takes an active and prominent interest in the affairs of this party, and though he is not a member of any church, he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 147. He is also a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, No. 520, of which he has served as worshipful master in 1914. He also served as worthy patron in the Order of the Eastern Star, from 1912 until 1914, and is a member of Chapter 115, Council 69. He has taken the sixteenth degree of Scottish Rite Masonry and expects to complete the re- maining degrees up to the thirty-second.

DAVID G. MILLER.

A day's ride in Putnam county, Ohio, reveals, even to the casual ob- server, a splendid stretch of farming country. Whether the farms be large or small, there is a marked uniformity of excellence, not only in the land values, but also in the character of the industries promoted, and yet, the close observer will see that this prosperous condition is not accidental. He knows that it is the fruit of brawn and brain, the result of painstaking toil extending through the years, and thought concentrated upon one object- success. To some, the struggle has meant bitter disappointment, but others there are who have refused to recognize obstacles, who have shown their spirit to be mightier than all conditions. But it has taken them all to make up the life of each community. Therefore we are interested in every pioneer who has made his contribution to the prosperity of Putnam county. Among these, David G. Miller claims our attention, not only because of his success as a farmer, but because he merited the esteem of his fellow men.

Two years after the birth of David G. Miller, which occurred on June 9, 1868, his mother, Mary (Vogt) Miller became a widow through the death of her husband, Christ Miller. Their home was then in Allen county, Ohio. After the marriage of his mother, some time later, to Aaron Huysman, the

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family moved to Putnam county, selecting Monterey township for their future home. At this time, David was about four years old.

Fortunately, he had three brothers older than himself, these being the sons of Christ and Mary Miller. Under the guidance of a devoted mother, they grew to manhood, and all are living today, John H. at Bossil, Fairfield county ; Adams, a farmer, in Van Wert county, and Jacob near Continental, Ohio.

The life of David G. Miller has not been different in outward circum- stance to that of many of his friends and neighbors, but who shall say that the inner life has not been rich and varied? Ambitious to learn all that the schools in his vicinity were able to give him, he received a common school education, working on his father's farm when not attending school. Reach- ing the mature age of twenty-six, he started out for himself, acquiring a tract of well-improved land, consisting of forty acres, in section 26, about two and one-half miles southwest of Ottoville. It was 1905 when he began an independent career, by marrying Miss Mary Hanefeld, the wedding taking place on January 19.

The bride was a daughter of John D. and Sophina (Kirchoff) Hane- feld, both of whom were natives of Germany. John Hanefeld came to the United States with his parents when he was a little fellow of eight summers, and they all settled on a farm in Jennings township. Mrs. Hanefeld was twenty-two when she left Germany and came to this country, living for a while after her arrival in New York city. Preferring country life to the city, the family later removed to Ft. Jennings where the young woman met and married John Hanefeld. Of the nine children, who blessed their home, four only are living. These are Mrs. David G. Miller ; John, who lives near Continental; Louis and Paul, who live at home. Henry died when eleven years of age, and four others passed away in infancy. Both parents are living and are still interested in their farm in Jackson township.

Bertha S. Miller is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David G. Miller, and also the only child. She was born on December 29, 1905, and is attend- ing school near their attractive country home.

Mr. Miller, in recent years, has given particular attention to the raising of full-blooded Light Brahma chickens and a splendid grade of stock. So successful has he been that he is often sought by his neighbors that they may profit by his advice and experience. Mr. Miller has always cast his lot with the Republican party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Delphos, while his wife still retains her membership in the Lutheran church of Ft. Jennings.

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Mr. Miller is the kind of man that every community needs. His life has not been one spent in the world's broad thoroughfares, nor has he won laurels on the field of battle, but each day's task has been performed with courage and perseverance and in a kindly spirit, and who shall say that this is not success ?

HENRY ERNST.

It cannot be other than interesting to note, in the series of personal sketches appearing in this work, the varying conditions that have compassed those whose careers are here outlined, and thus it has been made in each case to throw well-focused light on the individuality and to bring to proper per- spective the scheme of each career. Each man who strives to fill his part in connection with human life and human activities, deserves recognition, whatever may be his field of endeavor. It is the function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic record of those represented in its pages and the value of such publications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accomplishments of each community. Henry Ernst, the subject of this sketch, is a well-known merchant of Ottoville.

Henry Ernst was born on February 27, 1859, in Huron county, Ohio, the son of William and Catherine (Leis) Ernst. William Ernst was a native of Westphalia, Prussia, and his wife was born in Bavaria. They were mar- ried in New York city. William Ernst came to the United States in 1852, and worked in New York for a time. After his marriage, he and his wife came west to Ohio, settling in Huron county. Ten children were born to them, five sons and five daughters. Six are now living, Kate, the wife of Joseph Fritz, of Huron county; Sophia, the wife of John Miller, also of Huron county ; Margaret, the wife of Kinney Cole, of near Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Anthony, who lives in San Francisco, California, and Peter, who lives in Michigan. After coming to Ohio, William Ernst was a farmer and followed this occupation the re- mainder of his life. He died on November 14, 1893, and his wife died on October 25, 1880.

Henry Ernst received a common school education. He learned the brickmaker's trade in 1883, and came to Ottoville, where he was foreman of a brick yard for two years. During this period, he made brick for the Catholic church. He began life for himself in 1886 and engaged in the

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manufacture of brick, which he continued for several years. In connection with this industry, he was also engaged in farming during this period and for two years was engaged in making butter. He purchased an interest in the J. J. Miller Company, in 1894, which operates the largest general store in Ottoville.

Henry Ernst was married on November 24, 1885, to Theresia Wanne- macher, the daughter of Peter and Agnes (Neher) Wannemacher, both natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. They came to Putnam county in 1854, where they settled on a farm. Prior to their coming to Putnam county, they lived for a short time in Cincinnati. Peter Wannemacher operated a saw- mill and also owned a boat on the canal, which ran between Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio. He died on October 17, 1912, and his wife died on January 19, 1892.

To Henry and Theresia (Wannemacher) Ernst, eleven children have been born, only two of whom are now living. Nine of them died in infancy. The two living children are Mary W., who is a graduate of Notre Dame University and lives at home, and Albina S., who graduated from the high school at Ottoville and lives at home.

Mr. Ernst is a Democrat and he and his family are members of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Ottoville. Mr. Ernst is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio.

Mr. Ernst has made a splendid success of his business at Ottoville, which has been founded upon honesty and square dealings with his patrons. He is highly respected in the community and honored for his sterling, upright character.

JOHN J. MILLER.

In the early days, the Middle West was often a tempting field to ener- getic, ambitious, strong-minded men, and Ohio was filled with them during the time she was struggling to a respectable position in the sisterhood of states. There was a fascination in the broad fields of great promise which this new region presented to activity that attracted many men and induced them to brave the discomforts of early life for the pleasure and gratification of constructing their homes and fortunes in their own way and after their own methods. It is this class of men more than any other who gives shape, direction and character to the business of a community. John J. Miller, during a long period of years, has been one of the substantial and prominent

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citizens of Putnam county. Although, perhaps not entitled to rank as a pioneer, Mr. Miller has lived here for many years and has become a power in the commercial and business life of Ottoville and vicinity.

John J. Miller was born at Fremont, Ohio, on April 14, 1854. He is the son of John and Johanna ( Flatz) Miller, the former of whom was born on June 14, 1820, in Bavaria, and the latter born in 1828, in Tyrol, Austria. The father came to America in 1848 and first settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained for one year. He then moved to Fremont, in Sandusky county, Ohio, and, being a tailor by trade, engaged in that business. He was mar- ried in Fremont, in 1853, to Johanna Flatz and to them were born seven children, six of whom are now living, John J., the eldest, who is the subject of this sketch; Jane, deceased; Anna, the wife of Andrew Kehres, of Monett, Missouri; Edward, who lives at Celina, Ohio; George, who is a manufacturer of tile and a farmer near Ottoville; Josephine, who is the wife of Joseph Breckner, of Monterey township; Katherine, who is unmarried and lives at Delphos, Ohio.

John Miller, the father of John J., moved to Putnam county in 1862, and bought a farm near Ottoville, Monterey township. Here he spent the remainder of his days and was a very successful farmer. He was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of as good land as there was to be found in Putnam county. He was a devoted member of the Catholic church and died March 19, 1902. His wife died in August, 1906.

John J. Miller, the subject of this sketch, received a good common school education in the public schools of Putnam county. Mr. Miller was married to Margaret Lauer, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Reitze) Lauer, both born in Lorraine, Germany, and both of whom came to the United States in 1870, locating in Ottoville. Alexander Lauer was a farmer and followed this occupation until 1908, when he retired. He died on January 16, 1913, and his wife died on January 23, 1908. To John J. and Margaret (Lauer) Miller, seven children have been born, all of whom are living, Elizabeth, the wife of Walter Mersman, of Celina, Ohio; Alexander, who assists in the store at Ottoville; Mary, the wife of Dr. J. F. Ockuly, of Ottoville; Edward, who manages the J. J. Miller & Company branch store at Kalida; Catherine, Margaret and Rudolph, all at home.

john J. Miller followed farming, until about 1890, when he began manu- facturing tile, and was in this business for seven years. Upon selling his interest in this business, he purchased the Ottoville hotel and was proprietor of this hotel for one and one-half years, when he sold the hotel and went into the mercantile business. This was about eighteen years ago, and the business

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was conducted under the firm name of J. J. Miller & Company. The com- pany was incorporated under this name in 19II and they now operate a branch store at Kalida. The store at Ottoville is the largest mercantile store- in Putnam county. Mr. Miller is vice-president of the Ottoville Bank Com- pany, a stockholder in the Griffis Produce Company, of Ottoville, and in many other ways is closely identified with the business life of that community.

John J. Miller is an ardent Democrat, but has never been especially active. in political affairs and has never held office. All of the members of the Miller family are devotedly attached to the Catholic church and are liberal contributors to its support.

GERHARD H. OTTE.

The great English poet, Pope, has said that the proper study of man- kind is man. No truer statement was ever made. To be able to trace one's ancestry back to past generations, and find that they have occupied high and honorable positions in the history of their country, is a source of genuine satisfaction, and deep gratification. To be the son of a man who is identified with the pioneer life of a community and who, during his lifetime, figured prominently in pioneer affairs, is an honor of no mean importance. The father of Gerhard H. Otte was one of the first settlers in Monterey township, and in his day one of the influential citizens of this township. Gerhard H. Otte is descended from a long line of illustrious ancestors, who have been. influential on two continents. Mr. Otte's grandfather and father both were named Gerhard H., and Mr. Otte himself has a son named Gerhard.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 116

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