USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 123
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To James G. and Cora Leona (Sherrick) Thomas and wife have been born the following children : David, on July 15, 1903; Dale, April 22, 1906, and Devere, May 22, 1910.
Mr. Thomas is a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church and is a trustee in this church. Mrs. Thomas is also a member. Mr. Thomas is a Republican. He is one of Sugar Creek township's progressive young farmers. He is well and favorably known and well liked by all his neighbors, not only in Sugar Creek township, but in adjoining townships.
WILLIAM L. WOLLAM.
It is the farmer who makes it possible for man in other occupations to live. Farming was the original occupation of man and it is the only pro- fession or business which could exist independently of all others. Indeed, every occupation is dependent upon the farmer. The products of the farm have made our railroads what they are today, and the great bulk of manu- facturing is made necessary because of the farmer's needs. The people of the city could not live a week without the farmer's products. He holds not only the purse-strings of the nation, but even the very life of the people. For this reason the farmer has in reality the most important business of all. Putnam county has as fine farms and as good farmers as can be found any- where in the state of Ohio, and among them is William L. Wollam, who is also a well-known automobile agent.
William L. Wollam was born on June 4, 1854, in Delaware county, Ohio. He is a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Evans) Wollam. Daniel Wol- lam was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1815, and about 1840 moved to Union county with his first wife, whose maiden name was Lite, and who died a short time after her marriage, leaving her husband with one child, a daughter, who died about 1905. He afterward married Rebecca Evans, and,
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in 1888, moved to Hardin county, where his wife died, in 1889, at the age of fifty-four years, while he lived to reach the age of eighty-one years. He had four brothers and one sister. Peter, John and Jacob died in Union county, while Joseph died in Putnam county. Daniel Wollam was a son of Benjamin Wollam, who died in Fairfield county, Ohio. Benjamin's father was Baltzer Wollam, who died in Columbiana county, Ohio. Baltzer was a son of Jacob Wollam, who died in Berkeley county, West Virginia, in 1778. Jacob Wollam is supposed to have come from Germany. Daniel Wollam was a farmer throughout his active life, and owned a small farm and home in Hardin county, where he engaged in raising truck. He was a Democrat, and while he was a member of no church, he was reared as an adherent to the German Reform church, but was not an active member. Mrs. Rebecca (Evans) Wollam's parents came from Virginia, migrating to Ohio, where she was born and where she spent her womanhood.
Benjamin Wollam moved from Berkeley county, West Virginia, to near Martinsburg, Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1804, and here he built a cabin on the banks of Rush creek. He owned two hundred acres of land seven miles from Lancaster, Ohio, from which farm his children went to and from Lan- caster to school, and to study the Heidelburg catechism under old Father Wise, one of the pioneer ministers of the German Reformed church. They were trained to be thorough and, subsequently, were successful in whatever they undertook.
Daniel and Rebecca (Evans) Wollam were the parents of nine children, Charlotte, who died at the age of fifteen years; William L., the immediate subject of this review; Levi, of Ada, Ohio; Christina, who is now Mrs. Foss, lives at Bradentown, Florida, but were formerly residents of Ada, Ohio; John, a piano tuner of Cherryville, Kansas; James, who died at the age of fifteen years; Frank, living at Columbus, Ohio, where he is a teacher in the public schools; Mary, the wife of Frank Wright, Ada, Ohio; Missouri, the wife of Frank Sliger, of Columbus, Ohio; Charles, who died at the age of nineteen years.
William L. Wollam grew up in Delaware county, Ohio, and came to Putnam county at the age of twenty-eight years in 1881, settling at Dupont, where he resided for fifteen years. He was educated in the public schools of Delaware county.
Mr. Wollam was married on October 7, 1882, to Ida Davis, a native of Vermillion county, Illinois, born on May 20, 1863, the daughter of Richard and Mary A. (Layton) Davis. Richard Davis was born in Pennsylvania on March 3, 1823. His parents moved to Marion, Ohio, about four years later,
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where he was married to Mary A. Layton, of that county, in 1845. They moved to Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1853, where they resided for seven- teen years. They moved to Bryan in 1871, where they spent their declining years. Richard Davis died at Bryan, July 13, 1909, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania on May 10, 1828, died at Bryan, January 30, 1908, the age of eighty years. She moved with her par- ents to Marion county, in 1831. Eleven daughters were born to Richard and Mary A. (Layton) Davis, eight of whom are still living, Mrs. Wollam being the ninth daughter born to her parents. Mrs. Mary A. (Layton) Davis was a member of the Christian church at Bryan, Ohio.
William L. and Ida (Davis) Wollam are the parents of seven children, Zoe, who is in the employ of the Ann Arbor Railway Company, of Toledo, Ohio, where she is in the auditor's office, and has been there for nine years ; Rolly R., living in Young America, Minnesota, where he is operating a meat market; Edith, the wife of J. H. Rutledge, lives in Montana, near Powers, on a ranch, and they have one child, William; Mary Rebecca, the wife of John Potts, has one child, Zoe ; Helen, at home, is employed in the Continental Bank, where she is bookkeeper; Walter, living at home, and Agnes, the youngest of the family, is also living at home with her parents.
William L. Wollam left Dupont, Ohio, for the farm he had purchased while living there. Mr. Wollam traded a horse and buggy, one hundred dollars in money, and a note for one hundred and seventy-five dollars for forty acres of land in Putnam county. He came to this place and cleared up the land, afterward returning to his old home in Delaware county, Ohio, where he worked for fifteen dollars a month to assist in paying off the note on his land, and by hard work, succeeded in paying the note, and now has a splendid farm. He came from Delaware county with several companions in a covered wagon, and hunted deer on the way. Mr. Wollam, subsequently, bought sixty acres across the road from his original forty. He farmed until March, 1913, when he moved to Continental, where he is now living. Mr. Wollam has written insurance for the past thirty years. He has also been in the organ and piano business for a part of that time, and sold musical instruments all over the northwestern part of Ohio. In June, 1914, he contracted for the agency of the Overland automobile, and has the exclusive right to sell this machine in Putnam county. He is active in the sale of automobiles and has built up a big business in Putnam county.
Fraternally, Mr. Wollam is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having. taken all the degrees of this order, including the thirty-second. He was a charter member of the first Knights of Pythias lodge in Putnam
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county, which was started in Dupont. He was also a charter member of the lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Dupont, but is not active in either of the latter lodges at the present time. He joined the Masonic order at Kalida, Ohio, and became a charter member of the lodge at Continental, where he was the first secretary. Mr. Wollam belongs to the blue lodge at Continental, the chapter at Ottawa, the Knights Templar at Defiance, and the consistory at Toledo, Ohio. With the exception of his membership on the county board of elections, for the past eight years, Mr. Wollam has not held office. He is a stanch Democrat. Mrs. Wollam is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Continental, For many years Mr. Wollam has been a member of the school board and active in educational affairs in the com- munity where he lives. He is an active member of the agricultural board and superintendent of speed which position he has held for many years. He is a man of untiring energy, well and favorably known throughout Putnam county and bears a high reputation in the community for fair and square dealing.
JOHN HENRY MEYER.
Men who have cleared the land, drained the swamps and erected new buildings and fences, making the soil teem with growing crops, are entitled to the rank of the foremost citizens of any community. John Henry Meyer, an enterprising farmer of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, has done all of these things.
John Henry Meyer was born at Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, the son of Gerhard B. and Mary (Moening) Meyer. Gerard B. Meyer was born in Germany, the son of Theodore and Anna Mary (Mersman) Meyer, who were born and married in Germany and came to Glandorf, Putnam county, about 1834. Theodore Meyer helped to build the canal. He had many thrilling experiences with the Indians who came to this place at that time. On one occasion the mother went to Lima to get flour and walked all the way, carrying the flour on her shoulder. Theodore Meyer cleared the land on Cranberry creek, southwest of Ottawa, and there spent his life. They reared a family of five children : Gerhard B., Bernard, Theodore, Mary Theresa and George Henry.
John H. Meyer is one of six sons and three daughters, of whom one son died when eight years old; the others are Henry, Theodore, Joseph Herman, Frank, Mary, Katie and Elizabeth. Katie married and died about
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nine years ago, leaving one son, Frank. The other brothers and sisters are all living.
John Henry Meyer lived at home until twenty-two years old when, in 1880, he was married to Katie Ellerbrock, the daughter of Ferdinand and Theresa (Kleman) Ellerbrock. She died in 1907. She was the mother of two sons and five daughters, Elizabeth, Theresa, Lucy, Minnie, Harry, Clara and Edward. Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Niese and lives on a farm near Ottawa. They have three children. Theresa, the wife of Casper Schmenk, lives in New Cleveland, Liberty township, and has three children; Lucy, the wife of Theodore Ruhe, lives at Miller City and has three children; Minnie, the wife of Frank Schroeder, lives north of Leipsic in Van Buren township and has three sons; Harry is at home; Clara is the wife of Walter' Klass and lives at Miller City, and Edward is still at home.
After Mr. Meyer's first marriage he began farming about three miles southwest of Leipsic and five miles north of Ottawa, where he bought eighty acres of undrained land, and there were many water holes. He put this land in a state of cultivation and built an entire new group of buildings, in- cluding a splendid new brick house. He now owns one hundred and ninety acres of land, one hundred and fifty in the home farm and forty in Ottawa township. Mr. Meyer has operated a threshing outfit ever since he was a young man and is widely known as the most successful thresher in the com- munity.
In 1909 he married Mrs. Annie (Lammers) Schroeder, the widow of John William Schroeder. She was born and reared at New. Cleveland, the daughter of Henry and Gertrude (Siebeneck) Lammers.
Henry Lammers came from Germany and Mrs. Lammers was born at Glandorf, a daughter of Bernard Henry and Gertrude (Inkrot) Siebeneck. Bernard H. Siebeneck was born near Munster in Prussia and came to the United States, about 1835, and entered government land in Greensburg town- ship. He remained there a year, when he went back to Germany and mar- ried there. Returning with his wife, they lived in Greensburg township the rest of their lives. Henry Lammers was a son of John Lammers and wife and came to America probably as early as 1850 and became a well-known farmer, spending the rest of his life on his farm in the northeastern part of Ottawa township, where his widow still resides.
Mrs. Meyer's first husband was J. William Schroeder, who was born on March 6, 1857, and died March 17, 1901. He was born at Glandorf, the son of Charles and Agnes (Hohenbrink) Schroeder. Charles Schroeder was born at Ostercappeln, Germany, and came to America at the age of six
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years, about 1834, with his parents, Nicholas and Anna Schroeder, who set- tled in the wild woods of Greensburg township and suffered many privations of pioneer life, but in time the family prospered and Charles Schroeder be- came a successful farmer, owning over seven hundred acres of land. His son, J. William Schroeder, farmed at New Cleveland until his death.
Mrs. Meyer had seven children by her first marriage, four sons and three daughters : Charles, Frank, Jerome, August, Mary, Anna and Martha. Charles married Millie Kuhlman and has three children; Frank married Mr. Meyer's daughter Minnie the same day Mr. Meyer married Frank's mother ; Mary is the wife of William Kuhlman; Anna married Charles Kuhlman and has two children living and one dead. Mr. Schroeder died in 1902. He was a life-long farmer.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer and family are all members of the Catholic church at New Cleveland and are liberal contributors to its support.
DANIEL MILLER ALLEN.
The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens and yields its tribute of admiration and respect to those whose works of action constitute the records of a commun- ity's prosperity and pride. Among the prominent citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, who are well-known because of their success in business affairs and the part they have taken in the educational and religious affairs of the locality, is Daniel Miller Allen, now a well-known real estate broker and insurance agent of Columbus Grove.
Daniel Miller Allen was born on June 30, 1868, in Auglaize county, Ohio. He is the son of Silas D. and Permelia C. (Miller) Allen. Silas D. Allen was born on August 18, 1844, in Auglaize county, the son of Warren C. and Mary (Coleman) Allen. Warren C. Allen was a native of Fairfield county, and came to Auglaize county in 1836, where he settled on land entered by his father, Whiting Allen. He continued to live in Auglaize county the re- mainder of his life, and died in 1859.
Silas D. Allen was reared on the old homestead farm and, at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving through most of the war. His enlistment was made in 1862, and he
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served three years, being discharged on June 9, 1865. His services were per- formed under Generals Gilmore and Burnsides. On November 18, 1863, he was captured at Knoxville, Tennessee, and held a prisoner for fifteen months and eight days. During this time he was confined in the military prisons of Atlanta, Richmond, Belle Island, Andersonville, Charleston, South Carolina, Florence, South Carolina, and Goldsborough, North Carolina. From the last named prison he was paroled.
After the war, Silas D. Allen was married to Permelia C. Miller, who bore him three children: Mary S .; Daniel M., the subject of this sketch, and Arvilla D. Mary S. first married Grant D. Martin, who died about six years later. About eight years after her husband's death she married Isaac Willis Slagle and they now reside in Spokane, Washington. Arvilla D. is the widow of G. H. Daniels and now conducts a book store at Columbus Grove. For a time after his marriage Silas D. Allen engaged in farming and then went into the boot and shoe business at St. John's, Auglaize county, where he con- tinued to do business for several years, which business he continued after he removed to Columbus Grove. A short time later he took up farming and truck gardening, which he continued for a few days. He then entered the butchering business and finally became interested with W. A. Perkins in the lumber and fork-handle manufacturing business, where he retained an interest for four years. Subsequently, he engaged in raising potatoes and sugar beets.
Silas D. Allen's wife, Permelia C. Miller, was born in Auglaize county, and is the daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Kingery) Miller, the former a native of Piqua county and the latter a native of Paulding county, where they were pioneers.
When Daniel Miller Allen was about four years old he came with his parents to Columbus Grove, and here attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, after which he took a commercial course at the Tri-State Nor- mal College at Angola. After this he returned to Columbus Grove, and a little later took a position with the J. R. Hughes Wholesale and Retail House Furnishing Company. After about one and one-half years he became the manager of this concern and continued in this capacity for about two and one-half years longer. On account of ill health, he returned home, and about a year later, on June 16, 1893, he entered the insurance and real estate busi- ness with G. W. Core. A year later Mr. Allen purchased Mr. Core's interest and since that time has conducted the business alone. Mr. Allen has been very successful in this business and served a large clientele in the purchase and sale of real estate and in the insurance business. In addition to his other business, Mr. Allen, in 1906, in connection with B. F. Lugibihl, organized
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the Columbus Grove Brick and Tile Company, which business has grown to be one of the best and largest in this section of Ohio.
Daniel M. Allen was married on June 12, 1895, to Mabel Halcyon Long, the daughter of Newton S. and Carrie C. (Stahl) Long. Mrs. Allen was one of three children and the eldest of the family; Medway D., who married Edna Gable and is bookkeeper in the Peoples Bank, and Clyde M., who is single and at home. Newton S. Long is now retired and lives at Columbus Grove. He has been a minister of the United Brethren church, as was his father before him, who was a pioneer circuit-rider and traveled over a large circuit in northwestern Ohio. He was a man noted for his strong char- acter and for his wonderful voice. Mrs. Long's parents were pioneers of Sandusky county and came to this country from Germany in an early day.
Mr. Allen is a Republican. He has filled several positions of trust and responsibility, having been a member of the school board for twelve years, a member of the council for four years and a member of the board of public affairs for two years. Mr. Allen is a member of Lodge No. 364, Free and Accepted Masons, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife and family are members of the United Breth- ren church, in which Mr. Allen is a trustee. In 1912 he was a delegate to the general conference of the church in Decatur, Illinois. Daniel M. Allen is a man highly esteemed in the community where he lives, a man known for his many good works, for his sterling integrity, his genial disposition and his natural powers of leadership.
PETER SEITZ.
The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this article contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purposes which won for him an influential place in business circles and. high personal standing among his fellow citizens. His life work has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has ever followed have resulted, not only in gaining the confidence of those with whom he has had dealings, but also in the gaining of material prosperity for himself.
Peter Seitz was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on October 30, 1882, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Sarah J. (Funk) Seitz. For a sketch containing his paternal and ancestral history, the reader is
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referred to the sketch of Benjamin F. Seitz, which appears elsewhere in this. book.
Peter Seitz was reared on the paternal homestead, four miles north- west of Vaughnsville, and his education was received in the old Seitz district school. After completing his common school course, he took a normal course of study at the Palmer University at Muncie, Indiana. Upon the completion of his studies, he returned home and for a while farmed a portion of his father's land. In 1904, he was married and during the following four or five years continued to operate a part of the paternal farm and then took charge of the entire place, his father having moved to Columbus Grove. In the spring of 1913, Mr. Seitz bought eighty acres of land west of Hog creek, to the operation of which he gave his attention for to years and then, in the spring of 1914, returned to the old home place, where he now resides. Because of his character and the success which he has attained in his chosen vocation, he is well and favorably known throughout this section of the county. He maintains the farm at the highest standard of agricultural ex- cellence and, by following up-to-date and progressive ideas, has succeeded in receiving a noteworthy success.
On February 10, 1904, Mr. Seitz was married to Dulia Dreasky, who was born in Jackson township, Putnam county, on April 7, 1880, the daugh- ter of Arthun and Nora (Dray) Dreasky. She was one of three children, the others being Myrtle and Alonzo. Arthur Dreasky was born on Septem- ber 28, 1853, near Bucyrus, Ohio, the son of George and Rebecca ( Meadly) Dreasky, the former of whom was a native of Germany and a pioneer settler of Ohio. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His wife, Rebecca Meadly, was a native of this country. Mrs. Seitz's mother, Nora Dray, was born in West Virginia, near Steubenville, Ohio, December 30, 1860, the daughter of John W. and Judith (Fisher) Dray, both of whom were natives of Steubenville, Ohio.
To Peter and Dulia (Dreasky) Seitz have been born four children, Charles, on March 21, 1905; Clarence, April 13, 1906, died on September 25, 1907 ; Blanche, September 27, 1907, and Myrtle, October 15, 1909.
Mr. Seitz is a Democrat and takes an intelligent and commendable in- terest in local affairs. He is a member of the Ottawa River Christian church, of which he is a trustee and of which Mrs. Seitz is also a member. He is also a member of the Valley Grange, of which he is the present overseer. In every phase of life's activities, he has performed his part to the best of his ability and has earned the commendation and approval of all who know him ..
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ANTON KUHLMAN.
Philosophy and experience teach us that society is more quickly amelior- ated and best improved by the advancement of the individual. That is to say, if a person will attend to his or her own uplift, it stands as a matter of course that the entire body of society will benefit thereby. The greatest fac- tor in this work is example; the life and deeds of every individual are sure to react upon their fellows. The proof of this is found in the study of the life of Anton Kuhlman, who has materially aided his community by a quiet and unassuming example.
Anton Kuhlman was born in Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, on March 26, 1850, his parents being John Theodore and Anna (Schwatzengraber) Kuhlman, who were also the parents of Theodore, Barney and Henry, who live on adjoining farms in Ottawa township. Frank and John are both de- ceased.
Born in Germany, Theodore Kuhlman came to America with his parents at the age of fourteen. He was mechanically inclined, and when not work- ing on the farm made machinery in a small shop, making three separators, two of which he sold, keeping the other for his own use. Altogether he ac- cumulated six hundred acres of land, which he bought uncleared and made valuable by hard work. To each of three sons he deeded one hundred and seven acres, and to the other son, Theodore, he gave eighty acres. Theodore, the elder, followed general farming throughout his life and died on the farm January 6, 1889. He was a power in the community, a member of the Cath- olic church and was a Democrat.
It is related of Theodore Kuhlman that he was compelled, in pioneer days, to take his pork and grain to Defiance, in a boat built by himself, which would hold five hundred bushels of wheat. For this boat he hewed his own lumber ; its proportions were seventy-four feet long and six feet wide. Pork was packed on top of the wheat. Theodore slept in the boat during his trips.
Anna Kuhlman was also born in Germany and came to America with her parents about two years later than did her future husband. Her parents also settled in Glandorf. She died, August 18, 1877, mourned as a kind neighbor and a loving mother.
Living at home until his marriage, Anton Kuhlman located on the place given him by his father, which he cleared, fenced and drained, and on which he built numerous new buildings. At the present time he is an influential farmer, an automobile enthusiast and a good roads advocate.
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