History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 132

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 132

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Receiving his preparatory education in the public schools of the city of Cleveland and Ottoville and after finishing the various grades there, John F. Ockuly left for Cincinnati, where he entered the medical department of the University of Cincinnati and where he graduated with high honors in the year 1901. Immediately after his graduation, he began a search for a loca- tion wherein the services of a physician would be in demand, and finally de-

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cided to settle in Ottoville, Putnam county, and this is where he began the practice of medicine and has continued to reside since leaving college.

On June 5, 1903, John F. Ockuly was married to Mary Miller, daughter of John J. and Margaret (Lauer) Miller, and to their union have been born three sons, Eugene A., on August 9, 1904; Orville E., March 13, 1908, and Edward F., November 29, 1914.

Doctor Ockuly is an active member of the Putnam County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical As- sociation. Being a man of conscientious scruples, gentle and kind in disposi- tion, and thoroughly apprehensive of the sufferings of humanity, he has built up a large practice in this county and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

Mr. Ockuly is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and affiliated with the Catholic church of Ottoville, where also his family are regular attendants. Doctor Ockuly is a true advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and, though not particularly active in politics, lends an influence that is felt throughout the community. Personally, he is a man whom it is a pleasure to meet and is well spoken of from all sides, and is one who makes friends easily and enjoys a marked popularity among his fellow men. Because of his high personal character and success, he is numbered among the most enterprising and progressive citizens of this community.

JOSEPH SCHUMACKER.

The young men are the hope of this country. Their fathers have done a noble work in clearing the wilderness, draining the soil and building passable roads to market. Their work must be carried forward by the present gen- eration of young farmers, until this land is a golden garden, luxuriant with growing grain and teeming with the good things of the earth. The young farmers feel their responsibility, recognize their opportunity and they are now doing valiant service to carry on the noble work of their worthy for- bears. Among the progressive young farmers of Putnam county who are fully alert to present-day opportunities, is Joseph Schumacker, of Monterey township.

Joseph Schumacker was born in Allen county, Ohio, near Landeck, in 1875, and is the son of John and Margaret (Schille) Schumacker. John Schumacker is a native of Putnam county, having been born near Glandorf

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on December 24, 1842. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Margaret Schille, was born in Allen county. They have had nine children, all of whom are living, Anna is the wife of Henry Puval; they live in Monterey township; Joseph, the second child, is the subject of this sketch; Lena is the wife of L. Kramer, of Marion, Ohio; Susie is the wife of Anthony Janke; they live in Ottoville; John M., August 7, 1881, married Mary Martin, June 4, 1908, and they have three children, Albert, born on July 9, 1909; Marie, May 17, 1913; Lenhardt, October 4, 1914. John M. Schumacker is a farmer in Monterey township and owns a farm of about forty-three acres; Frank, the sixth child, lives in Jackson township, Putnam county ; Henry lives near New Bavaria; Mary is the wife of Dudley Carpenter ; they live in Cincinnati; and Rosa is the wife of Clyde Ladon, and lives at McGuffy, Ohio.

John Schumacker, the father of Joseph, followed farming all his life and now lives with his children. He has been an industrious, hard-working man and has well earned the respect which comes to him in his old age.

Joseph Schumacker started in life without any financial assistance from relatives or friends. His first venture was in the saloon business, in which he was in partnership with Joseph Frey. He remained in this business for four months and, during this time, lost thirty-five dollars. He then went to work for Mrs. Joseph Frey, working about one year. Subsequently, he formed a partnership with Henry and Peter Frey and during this year he purchased forty acres of land south of Keiferville, in Putnam county. This partnership continued for about one year, at the end of which time there was a sale, and the farm implements and grain were sold. Mr. Schumacker then learned the carpenter trade and worked at it for two years. In the fall of 1904, Mr. Schumacker was married. Two years after his marriage, he pur- chased a twenty-acre farm adjoining his original forty acres and rented his father's farm. In 1908 he sold the sixty acres and purchased eighty acres in section 30, southeast of Ottoville. It is known as the Prairie View Stock Farm. Mr. Schumacker has been an extensive breeder of Belgian and Per- cheron horses. He now owns the following imported horses: "Mistigri Ragnies," registered number 4947, Belgium; mare, "Jeanneton De Bossierre," Belgium, register number 1495; "Volligeur Du Kat," Belgium, register num- ber 6024; and "Janvier," register American number 78673. Mr. Schumacker also owns a thoroughbred Belgium colt. He has improved his place by ex- pensive drainage and has a good house and barn.

In 1904 Mr. Schumacker was married to Fronie Martin, the daughter of William and Mary (Leschman) Martin. To this happy union three chil-

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dren have been born, Salome, on April 21, 1906; Norbert, January 27, 1909, and Albertha, September 22, 1911. All of these children are at home.

Mr. Schumacker is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Schumacker and the family are all members of the Catholic church. They are highly respected in Monterey township and Mr. Schumacker is regarded as an enterprising self- made young farmer, well deserving the confidence and esteem of his neigh- bors and fellow citizens.

DAVID ROWLANDS.

Perhaps some countries have given of their good citizens to this country to become the bone and sinew of the citizenship of this republic, but no coun- try has given better citizens to the United States than Wales. Welshmen seem to be possessed of a peculiar spirit of thrift which is unlike that charac- terizing the people of any other country. It is true that success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, yet the futility of effort is often notice- able in the business world. Somehow the people of Wales and their descend- ants are able to combine industry and sound judgment and to get splendid success from this combination. Many men give their entire life to toil, yet never acquire a competence, but true Welshmen seem to be able to direct their efforts into fruitful channels. Mr. Rowlands is a man whose work has been supplemented by careful management and today he is numbered among the most successful of the retired business men of Columbus Grove and vicinity.

David Rowlands, himself a native born American, was born on April 2, 1847, at Remsen, Oneida county, New York, the son of Roland T. and Susan (Lloyd) Rowlands, the former of whom was born in April, 1813, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales. He was the son of John Rowlands and wife.

Roland T. Rowlands came to America in the early forties, as a young man and was a pattern-maker by trade. He located at Utica, New York, where he remained about ten years, after which time he came to Columbus, Ohio, and there spent the balance of his life. After coming to this country he continued his trade of pattern-maker and was also an expert mechanic. He was also a splendid musician and possessed of an artistic temperament. He had a fine melodious voice and greatly enjoyed singing. Late in life, he joined the Presbyterian church and was a faithful member. He was a well- read man and was an exceptionally fine reader of the Welsh language. It is related that he made the first printing press for the Cunarder, a Welsh maga-

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zine organized in the forties at Utica, New York. He died at Columbus, Ohio, September 20, 1899, at the ripe age of eighty-six. His wife, Susan Lloyd, was born in the northern part of Wales, in Montgomeryshire, in 1818. She was the daughter of Richard Lloyd and wife, the former died in Wales and the latter came to America with her children, about 1840, locating at Utica, New York. It seems that the coming of Susan Lloyd to America was. flavored with a touch of romance. Her mother brought her to America to. escape the ardent attention of David Rowland's father. He, however, was not to be outdone, and in a short time he sailed for America and in due time presented himself in Utica with the natural result that he gained the hand of the fair young woman and she became his bride. After their marriage, they spent a few years in Cattaraugus county, New York, and then removed to. Columbus, Ohio. Here, after a most beautiful and useful life, her days. ended December 20, 1882. She was the mother of ten children, four of whom died in infancy. The others are: Ann, the widow of Louis Evans; David, the subject of this sketch : Elizabeth, the wife of Patrick Nugent; Thomas, who married Theresa Schall; Ambrose, deceased; and Susan.

David Rowlands, the subject of this sketch, came as a child with his par- ents to Columbus, where he grew to manhood. Here he learned the carriage- painter trade and, at the age of thirty, moved to Columbus Grove, in Putnam county, where he purchased a carriage-painting shop. He conducted this business very successfully for fifteen years, at the end of which time he re- tired from business and has since been engaged in looking after his private and personal interests.

David Rowlands was married on August 1, 1878, at the age of thirty- one to Marcella Devine, the daughter of Thomas and Eleanor ( Reynolds) Devine. Mrs. Rowlands is a native of Columbus Grove and was born on December 14, 1862. She was graduated from the common and high schools at Columbus Grove. Her father, Thomas Devine, was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, born on April 17, 1826, and the son of James and Isabella (Carlin) Devine. Thomas Devine was a farmer and road contractor in Ireland and, after coming to America, at the age of twenty-one, worked for a time at odd jobs. He arrived in New Orleans in 1848, and subsequently, came up the river to Cincinnati and got a job on a railroad. He helped to construct the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad from Hamilton to Toledo and became foreman of construction. Later, he built several miles of the road under contract. He finally settled in Coumbus Grove and was given charge of a section of the road. In this capacity, he acted as agent for wood used for fuel on the road from Lima to Toledo. In this way, he became

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wealthy and at the time of his death owned four farms in Putnam and Allen counties, besides considerable other property. His wife, Eleanor Reynolds, was born on June 15, 1826, in County Roscommon, Ireland, and came to America with her widowed mother with six other children. They landed in 1829 in Toronto, Canada, and came on to Hamilton, Ohio. Her parents were Patrick and Mary (Burns) Reynolds, the former of whom died in Ireland and the latter in Hamilton, Ohio, about 1860.

Thomas Devine and Eleanor Reynolds were married on February 16, 1851, at Hamilton, Ohio. To this union were born five children, Thomas, Jr .; James R .; Isabella, the wife of Herman Hoffman; Thomas Charles; all of whom are deceased, and Marcella, the wife of Mr. Rowlands.

Since attaining his majority, Mr. Rowlands has been a Republican and has been more or less active in times past in councils of his party. Mrs. Rowlands is a member of the Catholic church and a woman of rare culture and refinement. She is very prominent socially in Columbus Grove and vicinity, as are all the members of the Rowlands family. Mr. and Mrs. Row- lands have been the parents of one daughter, Eleanor Agnes, who is now the wife of Dr. Wiley D. Hickey, of Leipsic. Doctor Hickey and wife are the parents of one daughter, Dorothy.

Mr. Rowlands's splendid success in life has been founded upon sterling integrity, scrupulous business dealings and excellent judgment. These quali- ties have won him the universal confidence and esteem of the public.

PETER SCHMITT.

Any person who will investigate the facts in the case, will be surprised to learn the great number of people of Germanic nativity and descent now living in the United States. Unquestionably the greatest number of immi- grants reaching the shores of the new world come from that nation. There is more Germanic blood in the United States than any other. This being a fact, it is easy to account for the prosperity and morality of this country. Not only that, but it affords an explanation for the love of learning shown by the people of that vast nation. Germany is famous, the world over, for its remarkable universities, for its educated men, for its poets and philoso- phers and for the industry, patience, intelligence, morality and sturdiness of its citizens. These qualities have been brought to this country by the immigrants and are now a part of our wonderful nation-its progress in

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domestic economy, its advancement in every branch of material development and its love of country and home.

Peter Schmitt, the son of John J. and Anna M. (Schlig) Schmitt, was born in Prussia on August 13, 1865. His parents came to the United States in 1868 and settled in Landeck, Allen county, where John J. Schmitt died in 1872. His wife, who before her marriage was Anna M. Schlig, lived there until 1883, when she married Frank Clementz, and then moved to Ottoville.

John J. Schmitt learned the weaver trade in his native land and when he first came to the United States, followed this trade, in fact, he followed it almost all the time until his death. John J. and Anna M. Schmitt had four children, three of whom are living, Peter, the subject of this sketch; Mary, the wife of George Breckler, who lives near Defiance; Henry, who died at the age of thirty-two, and August, who lives in Ottoville. One child, Anthony Clementz, was born to the second marriage of Mrs. Schmitt.

Frank Clementz learned the stone mason trade in Alsace, Germany, and came to the United States in 1876, locating at Massillon, Ohio. He remained here until 1880, when he moved to Putnam county and settled on a farm in Monterey township. He followed farming and worked at his trade during the remainder of his life. He died in 1902, and his wife, the mother of Peter Schmitt, died on March 4, 1914.

Peter Schmitt was educated in the public schools of Landeck. He learned the mason trade with his step-father and when the latter retired from active life, in 1894, Peter Schmitt took up the work which his step-father had car- ried on. He has followed this trade in connection with contracting and build- ing since that time. In 1910, Mr. Schmitt started a cement block factory and has manufactured cement blocks on a large scale since that time. He manu- factures blocks for all purposes and he handles all kinds of building material, including cement, gravel and brick. His factory is located in the west end of Ottoville. Mr. Schmitt owns twenty acres of land.

Peter Schmitt was married on May 23, 1894, to Louisa Perrin, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret ( Harris) Perrin. Joseph Perrin was born in Franklin county, near Columbus, Ohio. His wife was born in Putnam county, where they were married. Eight children were born to them, three of whom are now deceased, Louisa, the wife of Mr. Schmitt; Louis, who lives in Oklahoma; William, who lives on the homestead in Monterey town- ship; Henry, who lives in Ottoville, and Albert, who lives on the old home- stead farm. The parents are both living in Monterey township.

To Peter and Louisa (Perrin) Schmitt eight children have been born, 84

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all of whom are now living, Matilda, on March 25, 1895, who is the wife of Anthony Altenburger, of Ottoville ; Joseph P., May 21, 1896, who is at home ; Gertrude, October 3, 1897, who is a graduate of the Ottoville high school and a telephone operator at Ottoville; Sylvester A., December 21, 1901, graduated and has just entered high school; Regina, March 1, 1903; Marcella, Septem- ber I, 1905; Bertha, December II, 1909, and Ethel, born on December 4, IQII, all of whom are at home.

Mr. Schmitt is a Democrat, but he has never held office and has never cared for office. The family are influential members of the Catholic church at Ottoville.

HENRY SEHLHORST.

The qualities which have made Henry Sehlhorst prominent and success- ful in the eyes of the community in which he lives, are no more than those possessed by others of indomitable courage, honesty of purpose and consecu- tive effort along well-defined lines which ultimately result in a satisfactory degree of success in life. Henry Sehlhorst began his career in a very humble manner and persevering with great determination and by honorable methods. has established for himself a reputation, standing for all that is honorable, upright, industrious, economical and exemplary in his every-day life and conduct. For such a man it is quite proper that he be accorded a place among the representative citizens of the county in which he lives since his patience and steadfast integrity show what is in the power of each to accomplish.

Henry Sehlhorst was born on August 7, 1860, in Glandorf, Ottawa town- ship, Ohio, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth. ( Hesslink) Sehlhorst. His father was a native of the Province of Oldenburg, Germany, where he lived with his parents until he grew to manhood and, at the age of twenty- two, he immigrated to America, settling first in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he followed his trade as a cooper in a large shop of that kind. He acquired a first-class knowledge of this trade in Holland before embarking to this coun- try. While in Cincinnati, he met and married Denia Swafmann, who was also a native of Germany, and to them two children were born, Katherine, who married a Mr. Kline and now resides in Utica, New York, and Josephine, who died in 1902. Henry Sehlhorst remained in Cincinnati for quite a while and then decided to settle in Glandorf, in Putnam county, where he con- tinued his trade, as a cooper, and about six months later, in the year 1857, he lost his wife by death. Two years after this he was married to Elizabeth

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Kesslink, a daughter of Hiram and Catherine ( Klupenhrosh) Hesslink, both natives of Germany, who came to America, settling close to Glandorf, where Elizabeth was born on March 22, 1841. Hiram Hesslink was married twice in Germany, and by his first wife had two sons and three daughters. The second marriage resulted in the birth of two daughters, Margaret and Eliza- beth. Mr. Hesslink first settled on a thirty-acre farm, where the town of Glandorf now stands, which he sold, and then bought eighty acres, which is located three miles west of Glandorf, where Elizabeth was born and grew to womanhood and was married.

Henry Sehlhorst, Sr., the father of Henry J., bought eighty acres of land between Ottawa and Leipsic, this county, which he rented out one one- half shares for the purpose of grazing cattle, while he continued his trade as a cooper. He died of lung fever in 1867, about which time he was forty- two years of age. His wife, Elizabeth, proved to be a great helpmeet to him and was ever a devoted wife and a loving mother. To them were born five children, Henry, Jr .; John; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Barney Ellerbrock and resides near Findlay ; William, who lives in Liberty township, near Leip- sic, and Frank, who lives in Liberty township. Mrs. Elizabeth (Hesslink) Sehlhorst was married, a second time, on May 30, 1868, to John Lammers, and they are living at Columbus Grove. To this last union were born the following children : Barney Lammers, living in Allen county, Ohio; George Lammers, residing in Liberty township; Mary, who is now the wife of Frank Karcher, of Allen county, Ohio; Charley and Wesley (twins), who died in infancy ; Josephine Karcher, who is now the wife of Jacob Karcher, of Union township; Filemena Fisel, who is now the wife of Edward Fisel, of Pleasant township; Anna, who married Mr. Basinger and is now deceased; Katharine, who married Frank Krouse and is now deceased, and Jerome Lammers, who is married and lives on a farm in Liberty township.

Henry Sehlhorst, the subject of this review, was married on February I, 1883, to Mary Folmering, a daughter of Theodore and Bernadina (Sebi- neck) Folmering, the former a native of Germany, and the latter a native of Glandorf, Ohio. They are both living and reside on their farm in Liberty township, but lead a life of retirement from active farm work. They have a son, Henry, who manages the place for them and it is said that he does it with great credit. The old folks celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1910, on the home place. The father is now seventy-nine and the mother, is sixty-nine years of age. To them were born six children, Mary; William, who lives in Liberty township; Christena, who is now Mrs. Neese, of Liberty township; Catherine, now Mrs. Buttondick, of Liberty township; Henry, the

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manager of the home place, and Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Gerding, of Liberty township. To Henry Sehlhorst and wife have been born eight children, Elizabeth, who married Barney Segar and lives in Pleasant township and who have two children, Edwin and Clara; John, who married Minnie Beckman and lives in Pleasant township; Henry, who remains with his parents; Will- iam, who married Laura Meyers, have one child, Victor, and live in Pleasant township; Catherine, who lives with her parents, also Frank, Josephine and Agnes, who are at home.

In boyhood Henry Sehlhorst spent his days under the parental roof, assisting his father around the place and, whenever possible, would hire out to neighbors. The money obtained for his work he would always bring home and his earnings were a great help to his parents in the early days. For some time he assisted his step-father in clearing a sixty-acre farm in Pleasant township. This required a great deal of ditching and draining before it was put in shape for farming, but, nevertheless, in less than two years, he pur- chased this tract of land from his step-father for the sum of two thousand dollars. It should be particularly noted that such a purchase must have been the result of great self-denial when it is considered that his services brought such small sums as fifty to seventy-five cents per day. Henry continued to get this land in good shape and erected thereon a log house and barn, which logs were cut from the heavy timber on the place, both the barn and house being lined with clapboards and made very comfortable. From this original sixty acres, he sold twenty oak trees, which brought the sum of forty-five dollars in those days. This was really the beginning of his success as a farmer and, by that close application and fixed determination to win, he began to acquire more land. Six years later he added to his holdings twenty acres and con- tinued to add to the original tract until this farm assumed a total of three hundred sixty acres, being the result of close saving and the exercise of care- full management and unremitting attention to work. Most of the money he had made during the earlier days was from cutting timber and hauling cord- wood to Columbus Grove. At the present time the greater portion of the land is cleared, but ten acres of timber is yet left standing. A fine residence was erected on the place and the necessary number of farm buildings for proper care of live stock, grain and machinery. Having had considerable experience in timber and knowing the value of such land at the present day, Mr. Sehlhorst invested in four hundred and eighty acres of virgin timber land in the state of Missouri, which he obtained for the sum of twenty-five dollars per acre.

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All things considered, Henry Sehlhorst has been a decided success in his chosen line of endeavor, and besides, has devoted no small amount of his time toward furthering the interests of his community. He is a firm believer in the economical results to be obtained from the building of good roads and himself helped to have fourteen miles of stone road built in the township.

Personally, Mr. Sehlhorst is a man of pleasing disposition and, having the faculty of making and retaining friends, is regarded as a first-class "mixer" in the community. He is always a booster for the advancement of the welfare of the people and is looked upon as a peaceful man, yet a strong leader when it comes to asserting himself for that which is right and honest. He is an ardent advocate of the principles of Democracy and cast his first vote when Cleveland ran for the presidency for the first time. Though not an aspirant for public office, he served the people for five years as township trustee, 1904-1909, and which office he filled with great efficiency and credit. He is a member of the Catholic church in Columbus Grove. Being one of the or- ganizers of the church, he has contributed most liberally toward its support and takes an active part in church affairs, being regarded as one of the pillars of the institution.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 132

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