History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 136

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 136

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Philip H. Jones came with his parents to Paulding county, Ohio, and in 185I removed to Putnam county, where he remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage on March 10, 1870, to Arie Buckingham, who was the daughter of Nicodemus and Margaret Jane (Niswander) Bucking- ham. Soon after his marriage, he went to Bluffton, Ohio, where he farmed a forty-six-acre tract for a while, then returned to Putnam county, where he purchased a forty-acre tract, near the old homestead farm, and farmed this. place for thirteen years. By frugal living and well-directed efforts he added forty acres to this and then sold the eighty acres. At a later date, he went

1363

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

to the old Bedford farm, one mile northwest of Columbus Grove, where he farmed for twenty years and then sold out. Purchasing the Daniel Slusser farm on the Ridge road, which he farmed for eight years, he sold out and then bought the Seth Smith farm of one hundred ten acres, which was located about a mile farther west. After a period of one year, he sold out this place and bought an eighty-acre tract in the vicinity of Rockport, Ohio, which he now owns and which his son, Homer, manages for him. In December, 1910, he returned to Columbus Grove, and bought the property on which he now re- sides. He was not a member of any societies, but he has been a believer in Republican principles and at one time was elected to the office of township supervisor. He is a devout member of the United Brethern church, as is also his entire family. To Philip Jones and wife the following children were born : John E. ; Chester H. ; Anna, who married Charles McDowell; Prudence Naomi, who married Lee McDowell; Charles Henry, Homer Lee, Hattie, who married Edward Henderson, and Anna. Of these children all are resi- dents of Pleasant township, this county, exception Homer Lee and Prudence Naomi who reside in Allen county.

Nicodemus Buckingham, was a native of Fairfield county, where he was born on May 30, 1817, near the town of Zanesville. He came alone, when a young man, to Blanchard township, Putnam county, and settled close to the county infirmary, in which neighborhood the subject's mother was born on September 22, 1849. Nicodemus Buckingham was a life-long farmer. He was married and lived in Blanchard township for a number of years and then removed to Union township, this county, where he continued farming for twenty-five years, then returned to Blanchard township, settled on a farm close to the town of Leipsic, where he spent the remaining days of his life. He was the father of eight children, Anne (Mrs. Wise), of Findlay; Arie, subject's mother, and Herman, of Ada. Also Mary, Sarah, Thrift, Maggie and Anasy, all of whom are deceased.

Charles Henry Jones was married on December 6, 1903, to Alta Fay Hartman, daughter of John H. Hartman, a full history of whom is given elsewhere in this work. To them two children were born, Noland Morris and Charles B. The early life of Charles H. Jones was spent on his father' farm, until he was twenty years of age, and later he spent a year with his father on the one-hundred-one-acre tract on the Ridge road. It was here that he was married and rented a farm from his father for a period of four years. He then bought the Harvey Jones farm of one hundred and ten acres, which was formerly known as the Smith farm. After farming this place for a year, he sold it to his father and bought the Frazier farm of forty acres, which he

1364

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

farmed for about two years, then sold out to Adam Keifer and son, and bought the Michael Bernis farm of ninety acres, which is located on the Pandora road, northeast of Columbus Grove, and where he now resides.

Besides carrying on a general farming business, Mr. Jones gives con- siderable time and attention to the feeding of large herds of cattle, horses and lambs. He owns breeding mares of the Percheron and Norman strain and has one pair of full-blooded (sisters) stock. The farm is not only a credit to the owner, but to the neighborhood, and Mr. Jones takes great pride in keep- ing the place up to the point of highest efficiency. He is reputed to be one of the best judges of live stock in this part of the country and is an excellent farmer.

Mr. Jones believes in the old-time principles of the Republican party, but has never taken any active part along these lines. The family devote their interest toward the United Brethren denomination in Columbus Grove. Per- sonally, Mr. Jones is found to be a man of unassuming disposition, quiet and pleasant, and is noted for his integrity of character, his loyalty to correct principles and is honored and esteemed by all who know him.

BERNARD R. UTENDORF.

Agriculture is no longer an occupation which can be followed without special preparation. Taxes, higher cost of living, and lessened fertility of the soil, place farming in the light of a business for which one must prepare either by the lessons of experience or the agricultural college, if the proper degree of profit be gained. An agriculturist who has gained his knowledge both in the hard school of experience and by the study of the newer ideas, is Bernard Utendorf, of Pleasant township.

Mr. Utendorf was born in Ottawa township on February 28, 1879, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Schulte) Utendorf, who were the parents of eight children, namely: Mrs. William Kleman, of Pleasant township; Eliza- beth, who lives on the homestead; John H. lives in Pleasant township; Bernard R .; Joseph lives on the home farm, and three children who died in in fancy.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Utendorf was Joseph Utendorf, Sr., who came from Germany and located on a forty-acre tract near Glandorf, which was then in the wilderness. With a hardy German constitution, he cleared his land and made a success of the farm as far as was possible in those days. His efforts were all directed to the realization of a dream of a

1365

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

homestead for his children. He died on this farm, about 1883. His wife, Mary Ann (Gerdeman) Utendorf, was also born in Germany, and died on the homestead in August, 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. She was a noble woman and a true helpmect to her husband. She was the mother of two children, Joseph, deceased, and Mrs. William Ellerbrock, who died on July 24, 191I.

Joseph Utendorf, Jr., the father of Bernard, was born on May 10, 1840, on the family homestead. He obtained a meager schooling, which was all that was available in those days. He lived on the homestead until his mar- riage and then sold the place to his brother-in-law, John H. Kleman, and moved to his wife's farm of two hundred acres, which he cultivated until his death, on August 27, 1885, at the age of forty-five years. He was a Democrat and he and his family were members of the St. John's Catholic church at Glandorf. His wife, born in Ottawa township, on October 3, 1842, is still living on the homestead, about two and one-half miles southeast of Ottawa, on the township line.

The youth of Bernard Utendorf was spent on the home farm, where he lived until his marriage. He attended the township schools until his marriage, after which he farmed a portion of the home farm. He then bought twenty-three acres of land from Harvey Summers, to which he has added until he now owns one hundred and seven fertile and well-improved acres, the greater part of the improvements having been added by Mr. Uten- dorf by hard work and the application of the principles of right farming, an example of which is the tiling of an open ditch at an expense of five hundred dollars.

On November 6, 1867, Joseph Utendorf married Catherine Schulte, a native of Ottawa township and a daughter of Henry Schulte and Elizabeth (Uphaus) Schulte, the former of whom was a native of Oldenburg, Ger- many, who came to America after his marriage and located on a tract of forty acres of wild land near Glandorf. By hard work he put the farm in good condition, and there he died on July 27, 1844, when Catherine was three years of age. His wife was also a native of Oldenburg, Germany, and after his death she was married to Herman Berning, who died on Janu- ary 14, 1885. No children were born to this second marriage. To Henry Schulte and wife were born two children, Elizabeth, who died in infancy, and the mother of Mrs. Bernard Utendorf.

It seems fitting to tell first of the marriage of the father and then of the marriage of the son. The marriage of Bernard Utendorf to Leona Kol- hoff occurred on October 29, 1901, the wife being the daughter of George

I366

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

and Caroline (Deck) Kolhoff, of Glandorf, Putnam county. Mr. and Mrs. Utendorf are the parents of four children, Martha, Marie and the twins, Bernard and Carl.

Mr. Utendorf and his family are members of the Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic church, while Mr. Utendorf is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio. He is a Democrat, but is rather independent in his political views. Popular, congenial and well liked, Mr. Utendorf has a strong influence as an advocate of modern principles of farming and progressive methods. He is a kind father, a home lover, and a successful tiller of the soil.

HOMER H. KEIFER.

While success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, the futility of effort is often noticeable in the business world and results from the fact that it is not combined with sound judgment. Many a man who gives his entire life to toil, earnest and unremitting, never acquired a competence, but when his labor is well directed, prosperity always follows. Mr. Keifer is one whose work has been supplemented by careful management and today he is numbered among the successful agriculturists of the locality in which he lives.

Homer H. Keifer was born in Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, on July 31, 1885, and is the son of Adam and Jennie (Foley) Keifer. His father was the son of Daniel and Lydia Anna (Spindler) Keifer and was born in Richland county, July 24, 1855. Homer Keifer's parental grand- father was born in Berkshire county, Pennsylvania, on January 24, 1819. When he first came to Putnam county, it was a wild, heavily timbered and swampy country. He lived to such an old age that he had the opportunity to observe the great changes which took place from year to year. During his entire life, he was engaged in farming and through the practice of thrift and industry he became fairly successful and accumulated a good share of this world's goods. Daniel Keifer was thrice married, the first time to Lydia Ann Spidler on September 10, 1844, and to them were born five children, Elias, deceased; Elmira (Mrs. G. G. Williams), of Ottawa ; Mary ( Mrs. Sheets), of Greenwood, Wisconsin; Adam, subject's father, and a child which died in infancy. Lydia Ann Keifer died, June 7, 1873, at the age of fifty-four years and eleven months. On August 10, 1874, he was married the second time to Christiana Sperio, who lived until July 24, 1892, without having given birth to any children. The third marriage occurred on September 20, 1896, to Mrs. Maggie Larrick. Homer's parental grandfather lived to the ripe old

1367

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

age of ninety-one years and six months, and died on July 7, 1910. In his early life, he was baptized and confirmed in the German Reformed church, but after coming to Putnam county, he became affiliated with the United Brethren church of which he was an active member until about the time he died.

Adam Keifer, was but three years old when his parents came from Rich- land county, and settled in Pleasant township, where he grew to manhood, received his early education in the neighboring township schools and lived on his father's farm, until the time he was married. He continued to live there until the spring of 1911 when he moved to Columbus Grove, his present home. Adam Keifer had learned the carpenter trade and followed this to some extent, in connection with his farming interests in Pleasant township, and was recognized as an expert mechanic in his line. After his marriage on April 3, 1879, to Jennie E. Foley, daughter of Philip and Mary Elizabeth (Goodwin) Foley, he continued to farm until the time of his retirement in I9II. Adam Keifer is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Columbus Grove, and has always been identified with the Democratic party. He is a strong supporter of the principles of Democracy, but never has aspired to public office. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church of Columbus Grove. Their children are Ily (Mrs. G. Froerer), of Kokomo, Indiana; Homer H., the subject, Cora B. (Mrs. Glancy), of Lima, and two children who died in infancy.

Philip Foley was born in Franklin county, on January 1, 1824, and died on February 17, 1898. Her mother was also born in Franklin county, on August 10, 1834, and died on July 31, 1880, in the forty-seventh year of her age. Her parents came to Putnam county, in the year 1852 and first settled in Sugar Creek township where they remained for two years and until the marriage of their daughter, Jennie, and then moved to Union township where they farmed the remainder of their lives. To their union were born nine children, Jennie, subject's mother; Rosa Ellen, deceased; Mina May (Mrs. Spencer), of St. George, Georgia; Esther, deceased; Marguerite Iona, de- ceased; Anna (Mrs. Smith), of Pleasant township; Della, deceased; Lula (Mrs. Snyder), of Augusta, Georgia, and a child that died in infancy.

Homer H. Keifer remained under the parental roof in Pleasant town- ship, during his boyhood and received his early education in the neighboring schools. At the age of twenty-one, he was married to Mattie C. Kohli, daugh- ter of Jacob and Nancy (Featheringill) Kohli, and which marriage occurred on September 16, 1906. Immediately afterward he and his wife began housekeeping in Lima, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for a period

1368

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

of two years, then was occupied for two years as a fireman on the Chicago, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, with headquarters in Lima, after which time they returned to Putnam county and resided on the homestead farm for about a year, then removed to the present farm in Pleasant township, which he and. his father bought, and which is known as the Robert's farm, situated about one and one-half miles northwest of Columbus Grove, which farm contains eighty acres and is well situated. Homer H. Keifer makes it his business to carry on general farming and devotes considerable time and attention to the feeding of live stock. Since coming here, Mr. Keifer has made a number of improvements on the place, including the fencing of nearly the entire tract and has ditched about twenty acres. Some new buildings have been erected, and included in these improvements are a large corn-crib and a strictly modern pig-sty. Everything about this farm indicates the thrift and unceasing in- dustry of the occupant, whose chief interests are centered in making this farm a model of its kind. Homer H. has always been identified with the Democratic policies and for the past two years has served in the capacity of clerk of the local election board. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Columbus Grove Lodge, and is an active member of the United Brethren church, while Mrs. Keifer takes an interest in the United Brethren church also, of which she is a member. They have one child, Herbert D., born on April 20, 1910. Personally, Mr. Keifer is a man who is well thought of in his community and his loyalty to right principles of living have won for him a place of high esteem and good wishes of everyone who knows him.

HENRY B. VERHOFF.

The routine of private life, although of vast importance in the welfare of the community, has not figured to any extent in history, but the names of men who have distinguished themselves by the possession of those qualities which contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence of those around them, should not be permitted to perish. Their examples are most valuable and their lives well worthy of consideration. Such are the thoughts that involuntarily, of course, come to mind when taking under review the career of such an honored individual as Henry B. Verhoff, a well-known farmer of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio.

Henry B. Verhoff was born on July 22, 1869, in Greensburg township, on the banks of the Blanchard river. He is a son of Theodore and Elizabeth

1369

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

(Egbers) Verhoff, the former of whom was born in Greensburg township, on June 17, 1838, and was a son of Francis and Mary (Kramer) Verhoff. Mary (Kramer) Verhoff was a daughter of Theodore and Gertrude Kramer,. who came to this country when Mr. Kramer was about fifty years old. Francis Verhoff, the father of Theodore, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, and came to America in 1836 alone. He settled near Glandorf and was married to Mary Kramer in 1837. He was a blacksmith by trade and fol- lowed this occupation after coming to this country, at Chicago, Toledo, and on the Maumee river, which occupation he also followed for some time in Putnam county, where he bought ten acres of land near Glandorf. Here he- had a small blacksmith shop. He added to his original purchase of land until he owned a large tract and retired from active life only a few years. before his death.

Theodore Verhoff was married on June 18, 1861, to Elizabeth Egbers, and to this union twelve children were born, Frank J., on June 22, 1864; William F., August 22, 1866; Henry B., July 22, 1869; John Theodore, April 6, 1870; Joseph Charles, March 15, 1873; John B., April 6, 1875; August George, February 5, 1877; A. Albert, February 18, 1893; Mary Elizabeth, April 13, 1862, deceased; Mary Ann, March 4, 1863; Amelia. Helena, June 21, 1879; Mary Regina, February 24, 1891.

Henry B. Verhoff spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Greens- burg township, and worked for his father until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he was married.

On June 2, 1907, Mr. Verhoff was married to Elizabeth Gerdeman, the daughter of Henry and Bernadina ( Eickholt) Gerdeman, and to this. union have been born two children, Romanus and Matilda, both of whom are living at home.

After his marriage, Mr. Verhoff settled on his father's farm of eighty acres, in Greensburg township, and here he lived until the fall of 1908, when he sold his farm and purchased one hundred and fourteen acres of land in Union township, and on this farm he lived until 1911, when he sold out and bought his present farm in Pleasant township. This property is located north of Columbus Grove, and comprises one hundred and sixty-six acres. Mr. Verhoff moved to this place in 1913, and here he carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, making a specialty of hog raising, and also gives some attention to milch and dairy cows.

Henry B. Verhoff and his family are devout members of the Catholic church at Columbus Grove and Mr. Verhoff is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio. Although he is a Democrat in politics, he has never been active in the councils of his party.

I370

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

Henry B. Verhoff is a quiet, unassuming man, a good farmer and a good judge of live stock. He keeps his farm in excellent condition and is a believer in progressive farming. He has always been an industrious man, and has managed to secure a competence for his efforts. He is highly re- spected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Pleasant township, where he maintains his residence. His buildings are all of the best and the very substantial.

CHARLES W. DOTY.

In the life record of Charles W. Doty, who for many years has been identified with various interests in Putnam county, Ohio, is shown many qualities in his make-up that always gain definite success in any career if properly directed. The splendid success that has crowned his efforts has been directly traceable to the salient points in his character, for he started in life at the bottom of the ladder. He comes of a splendid American family, one that has always been strong for right living and industrious habits, for loyalty to the national government, and for all that contributes to the wel- fare of a community, and because of his success in life and his high per- sonal character, he is clearly entitled to specific mention in the annals of this county.

Charles W. Doty was born in Pleasant township, on December 28, 1874, and is the son of Andrew Jackson and Clarissa (Trask) Doty. Andrew Jackson was born on July 25, 1850, in Viola, Greene township, Mercer county, Illinois, and was the son of Cornelius and Cassander (Geyer) Doty. The paternal grandfather was born in Mercer county, Illinois, and left there when but three years of age with his parents, Eliza and Sarah Doty, for Peoria, Illinois. It was there that he received his education and arrived at maturity. At the age of twenty he enlisted in the army for service against Mexico, where he remained throughout the entire campaign. After the war, he returned to Illinois and settled in the town of Monmouth, where he was occupied as a stage-coach driver until the time of his marriage. He then returned to Mercer county, Illinois, where he took up a soldier's home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land (all Mexican war veterans were allowed one hundred and sixty acres of homestead land). Here he carried on general farming until the breaking out of the Civil, War, when he enlisted as a private in Company I, Seventeenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under General Logan, and served gallantly for the term of eighteen months,

I371

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

when he was taken ill and returned home. He remained in Mercer county, Illinois, until the year 1867, then left for the state of Iowa, where he remained a year, after which he removed to Putnam county, Ohio, where he rented a farm and followed agriculture until about eight years prior to his death, May 4, 1894. During the eight years previous to his death, he served as a night watchman in the Jones handle factory, at Columbus Grove. He was born on July 25. 1825, and died at the age of sixty-eight years. Personally, he was regarded a man worthy of the high esteem of his fellow man and was a devout and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Columbus Grove. His wife, Cassander Geyer, was born on October 16, 1828, and was a native of Licking county, Ohio, a daughter of John Geyer and wife. Ac- companied by her sister she left the home of her parents when quite a young girl and came to Putnam county, and afterward she left here for Monmouth, Illinois, where she received her education, arrived at maturity and was mar- ried. She died, in 1899, at the age of sixty-eight years. To their union were born eleven children, Katurah, deceased; Andrew Jackson; James, of Pleasant township; Elizabeth (Stevens), of Colorado; Cornelius, of Pleas- ant township; Steven, deceased; Mary L. (Starkweather), of Columbus Grove; two infants, deceased; Samuel, deceased, and Charles, of Columbus Grove.

Andrew Jackson Doty spent his early days in Mercer county, Illinois, and at the age of seventeen years accompanied his parents west to Iowa, then again east to Putnam county, where he remained with them until 1868. It was here that he married Clarissa Trask, September 8, 1872, daughter of James R. and Lydia (Howard) Trask, to which union were born, Charles; Zoe L., deceased; Lee M., of Columbus Grove, and E. Fern, also of Colum- bus Grove, where he is a teacher in the second grade of the high school. The father put in a good portion of his life as a farmer, and also conducted a general draying business for twenty years at that place. On December 6, 1913, he discontinued the draying business, and for the past nine years has acted in the capacity of town marshal, in which capacity he has another year to serve. In 1892, he also served the town as street commissioner, which office he conducted with considerable credit. He is an active worker for the Republican party and a firm believer in progressive legislation to the welfare of the community. He is a member of National Beneficiary Union Lodge of Ohio, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Columbus Grove. James R. Trask was born on December 15, 1833, in Riley town- ship, Putnam county, and was a farmer all his life, except for the time that he was in the service of his country. When the Civil War broke out, he

I372

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

voluntarily enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, and served until 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. During the war, he lost an arm in a guerilla skirmish, near Chat- tanooga, Tennessee, at which time he was under orders of Captain Ewing, of Ottawa, Ohio. After the war, he settled on his forty-acre farm in Riley township, and remained there until 1871, when he removed to Columbus Grove, near where he lived and farmed in Pleasant township and where he owned a one-hundred-and-twenty-acre farm. After farming here for a time, he moved to the state of Indiana and settled on a one-hundred-acre farm which he purchased in Pulaski county. He sold out this place, at a later date, and finally returned to Columbus Grove, where he lived with his children, and died on January 9, 1895, of creeping paralysis, which is be- lieved to have been the result of the wound he suffered in the Civil War. His wife, Lydia Howard Trask, was a native of Crawford county, Ohio, where she was born on November 6, 1835, and came to Putnam county with her parents when she was three years of age. Her parents settled close to the town of Pandora, Riley township, and she was married in 1852. Except for about two years, spent in the state of Indiana, she lived her entire life in Pleasant township, but is now residing with a daughter, Mrs. Blake, of Elwood, Indiana. To James Trask and wife were born the following chil- dren: Clarissa, subject's mother; Emmadelia, deceased; Jame's Oliver, de- ceased; David E., of Findlay ; Ava (Vaughn), of California; Rosetta (Fin- negan), of Francisville, Indiana; Marietta (Blake), of Elwood, Indiana, and Wilson, of Chicago, Illinois.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 136

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