History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 139

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 139

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CHARLES H. HUFFMAN.

The decrease in the number of persons engaged in agriculture-the number of food producers-is striking. Since 1880 there has been a steady decline from forty-four and four-tenths per cent. to thirty-two and nine-tenths per cent. in 1910. The percentage of professional people has shown a slight gain, and the percentage of persons in domestic and personal service shows a considerable falling off in the last decade, amounting in all to five and two- tenths per cent. On the contrary, the percentage of persons engaged in mechanical and manufacturing pursuits who are non-producers wholly of the raw materials for food, increased from twenty-one and eight-tenths per cent. in 1880 to twenty-eight and three-tenths per cent. in 1910. More striking still is the deduction from these figures that, whereas, in 1880, there were forty-four and four-tenths per cent. of the population to feed a re-

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mainder of fifty-five and six-tenths per cent., in 1910 there was only thirty- two and nine-tenths per cent. of the working population to feed a remainder of sixty-seven and one-tenth per cent. For some reason the active and suc- cessful farmers have been moving into the small towns and into the cities. Charles H. Huffman, a well-known auctioneer of Putnam county, Ohio, and who for many years was a successful farmer of Sugar Creek township, is one of those farmers who have lately removed to town, and who is now following exclusively the profession which he formerly followed incident- ally, while living on the farm.

Charles H. Huffman, formerly a well-known farmer and for many years a well-known auctioneer of Putnam county, was born in Springfield, Ohio, on June 20, 1868. He is the son of Frederick and Mary (Eickhoff) Huff- man. Frederick Huffman was born in Germany on May 17, 1833, and was the son of William Huffman, and wife. William Huffman was a farmer in Germany, where he owned a farm. He was the father of five sons and one daughter. Frederick, the father of Charles H .; Christian; William; Henry ; Charles, and Elizabeth. All of these children came to America. The only surviving members of the family is Frederick, the father of Charles H.

Frederick Huffman came to America at the age of twenty in July, 1853, making the voyage on a sailing vessel in forty-eight days. He came first to Ohio, and located in Dayton, where he was employed on the farm. He re- mained there for a year or two, and then removed to Greene county, where he continued to work on the farm for three or four years. He then engaged in the grocery business in Springfield for several years. At the age of thirty years, in March, 1864, he was married to Mary Eickhoff, who was born near Dayton, on March 28, 1847. She was the daughter of Henry Eickhoff and wife, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. The former was a farmer. He came to America shortly after their marriage and settled near Dayton, where, shortly afterwards, his daughter Mary was born. Two weeks later, her mother died, and Henry Eickhoff was later married to Dora Huffman. By this second union there were eight children, three sons and five daughters. Henry Eickhoff lived and died on the eighty-acre farm near Dayton, which was the birthplace of Mr. Huffman's mother. She grew to womanhood on this farm and here remained until her marriage.

Frederick Huffman, after his marriage, moved to Tippecanoe, Miami county, and there engaged in teaming. Later, he rented a farm and resided in Tippecanoe for several years. In the fall of 1882, he moved to Sugar Creek township, where he rented two different farms. Five years afterward he moved to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, and spent one year,

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one and one-half miles north of Vaughnsville, and then moved to a farm one and one-half miles southeast of that place. Here he resided on the old Michael farm for nine years, or until 1897, when he purchased forty acres of the old John Slusser farm, where he now resides. Frederick Huffman and wife are members of the Christian church. He is a Democrat in politics. Frederick and Mary (Eickhoff) Huffman have had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. William died on May 12, 1913; Charles H. is the subject of this sketch; Dora is still living; Matilda is the wife of J. H. Pur- nell and Albert is still living.

Charles H. Huffman was born in Springfield, Ohio, and spent his child- hood in that city and in Miami county. The latter part of his youth was spent in Allen county. After finishing the common schools he helped his father on the farm and remained with him until about thirty-two years of age. The following three years he was engaged in the machine business in Ottawa and Columbus Grove.

At the age of thirty-five, or on March 18, 1903, Mr. Huffman was married to Emma Smith, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on November 1, 1875, and who was the daughter of James F. and Eliza (Slusser) Smith. The former was born in Putnam county on May 10, 1843, and was a son of James Smith and wife. James Smith was a native of Virginia, who came to Putnam county at an early day. The reader is here referred to the parental history of the Smith family, found in the sketch of Charles Smith, a grandson of James Smith, contained elsewhere in this volume. Eliza Slusser was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on January 7, 1845, and died on December 16, 1907. She came with her parents to Put- nam county as a child and here lived until her marriage. With the ex- ception of about one year in Allen county, she spent the remainder of her life in Putnam county. James F. and Elizabeth (Slusser) Smith had eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity and still survive. They are as fol- low: Ira; James and Joseph, twins; Alice; Benjamin; Emma, the wife of Mr. Huffman; Ida; Anna, who died on October 3, 1895, at the age of fif- teen; Luella; Jennie, and Jesse.

Mrs. Emma Huffman spent her girlhood on the old Smith homestead until a short time before her marriage, when she removed to Columbus Grove.

After his marriage, Mr. Huffman continued to work in the machine business at Columbus Grove for about five years. He then moved to a farm of eighty acres, one and one-half miles north and east of Vaughnsville. This farm he bought two years previously. Mr. Huffman remained on the farm

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for about five years, which is improved by a commodious seven-room resi- dence and a large modern barn, forty by eighty feet. It has a cattle barn. also, seventy-eight by thirty-two feet, and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings. Mr. Huffman was engaged in general farming and paid especial attention to hogs and horses. In January, 1914, Mr. and Mrs .. Huffman removed to Vaughnsville, where he now resides. In addition to- his other interests, Mr. Huffman has been an auctioneer for the past sixteen. or seventeen years. He has been very successful in this profession.

Charles H. and Emma (Smith) Huffman have one child, Herbert Harry, born on July 18, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman attend the Christian church. Mrs. Huffman is a member of this church. Mr. Huffman is a Democrat. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for sheriff in Putnam. county, in 1914. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and belongs to Rufus Lodge No. 364. He is a member of Colum- bus Grove Lodge No. 464, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Vaughns- ville Lodge No. 711, Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Im- proved Order of Red Men at Kalida. Charles H. Huffman is a prominent, influential citizen throughout this section of Putnam county. He is also well known in adjoining counties in his professional capacity.

FRANK W. RUEN.

There is no occupation which gives a man the independence of life and. which brings him closer to nature than does farming. In pioneer times, farmers found their work very much of a drudgery, but with all modern im- provements, the farmer is relieved of much of the hard work which was the. portion of his forefathers. Farming has arisen in dignity until now it is. often referred to as a profession rather than as an occupation. Fifty years. the science of agriculture was in its infancy, and to think that a man was. compelled to take a course in college in order to succeed as a farmer was. absurd, yet today our colleges are teaching agriculture as a science and are- turning out thousands of young men who are well trained in the scientific methods of farming. Putnam county is one of the oldest counties in the- state, consequently has many fine farms and good farmers within its borders. Among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Putnam county there is. none who stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than does Frank. WV. Ruen, of Monterey township.

Frank W. Ruen was born in Monterey township, Putnam county, Ohio,,

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September 2, 1878. He is a son of William and Sybilla (Furst) Ruen. William Ruen was a native of Germany, born in 1824, and on November I, 1914, was ninety years of age. Hale, hearty and in good health. The oldest resident in Putnam county, he is deeply interested in the great war in the old country. Each day he reads the newspapers, carefully following each succeeding event in the great struggle for supremacy. William Ruen served under Frederick William in 1848 against the Revolutionists, and as a conse- quence realizes to the full the significance of this great clash of the nations. He came to the United States and located first in Cincinnati in 1860, where he lived until 1862, when he was married to Freda Honerbaum. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are still living, Anton, the first- born, died at the age of forty-two, at Granite City, Illinois ; William, Jr., lives at Cloverdale, Putnam county; Henry lives at Ottoville and Mary is the wife of John Furst, living near Ottoville on a farm. After the marriage of William Ruen, he came to Putnam county and settled in Monterey township, where he worked for one year for William Reckart. He then purchased forty acres of land in section 19, of Monterey township. Mrs. Ruen died about 1875, and subsequently, William Ruen married Sybilla Furst, to which union five children were born, three of whom are still living, Frank W., the eldest; Theresa, who died at the age of six weeks; Paul, who died at the age of two years; Anna, the wife of Gustavus Trenkamp, of Monterey town- ship; Addie, the wife of Joseph Schmersal, of Greensburg township. The mother of these children died on July 23, 1896. William Ruen now lives with his son, Frank W.

Frank W. Ruen received a common-school education and when he was about twenty-five years old, took possession of his father's farm. He has improved this place by building a barn and other outbuildings, suitable for modern farming. The house has also been remodeled, and he now has a very attractive and pleasant home. Mr. Ruen makes a specialty of thorough- bred Hampshire hogs, as well as a very high grade of other live stock, and has been very successful in his efforts in this line.

Frank W. Ruen was married on June 7, 1904, to Mary Schlagbaum, a daughter of Barney and Clara (Grewe) Schlagbaum. Barney Schlagbaum was born in Cincinnati. His wife was a native of Germany, and came with her parents, when a girl of six years, to America. Barney Schlagbaum and his wife are still living in Monterey township.

To Frank W. and Mary (Schlagbaum) Ruen four children have been born, all of whom are living, Alex, on January 28, 1906; Helen, May 9. 1909; Martha, September 25, 1913, and Marcella, February 1I, 1915.

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Mr. Ruen and his family are all members of the Catholic church of Ottoville. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio, and in politics is a Democrat. He was elected for the first term as trustee of Monterey township in 1912, and so efficient was his service that he was re-elected in 1914. He is now serving as president of the township board. Frank W. Ruen is a man of more than average influence in his community. He is highly respected for his native interest in all good works and is a valuable citizen of any community.

CHARLES HENRY MEYER.

When a man is referred to by his fellow men as an industrious, upright, honorable and progressive citizen of the community in which he lives, and is regarded a success in life by his neighbors, it is then that the chronicler of worth-while events begins an investigation and determines, in his own mind, whether or not great credit is due. As a caption for this review, we have the name of a man who stands for everything in the advancement and welfare of the people and whose personal achievements are worthy of mention in a historical work, where they can be referred to by the coming generation.

Charles Henry Meyer was born in Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, September 16, 1871, and is the son of George H. and Mary (Schroeder) Meyer. His father was a native of Putnam county, Ottawa township, and was born on his father's farm on February 7, 1846, where he grew to man- hood and received his early education in the township schools. The original farm contained eighty acres in Liberty township, and was always considered a good piece of land for general farming purposes. George H. Meyer is still living and resides on this farm, to which he added more land from time to time, the total of which was two hundred eleven acres and from which eighty acres was sold by him to the subject of this sketch. The father's homestead is situated in Liberty township, and the eighty acres which was sold lies in Pleasant township, this county. The father has continued farm- ing all of his life and is considered a man of sterling quality, honesty and good business ability, industrious and interested in the welfare of the com- munity. He served on the school board for a number of years, and was elected to the office of township supervisor, in which capacity he served for several years, to the satisfaction of the people interested. Religiously, he is an active member of the Catholic church in New Cleveland, Ohio, and

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of which his family are devout members. Mr. Meyer's mother was a native of Greensburg township, this county, being the daughter of Charles Schroe- der, and was born on April 23, 1852. She was married in November, 1870, to subject's father and is still living. To their union were born thirteen children, as follow: Charles Henry, Mary (Mrs. Kuhlman), of Blanchard township; Theodore, of Blanchard township; Anna (deceased), Tracy (Mrs. Edward Kuhlman), of Ottawa township; Katherine (Mrs. Barney Kettles), of Ottawa township; John, who lives in North Dakota; Benjamin, of Blanchard township; Fronia (Mrs. Frank Schmiedebusch ), of Liberty town- ship; Agnes (Mrs. John Schmenk), of Blanchard township; Hiram, Andrew and Edward, the last two named are living on the homestead farm.

Charles H. Meyer spent his early boyhood days about his father's farm in Ottawa township and received his education in the township schools. He assisted in clearing the original tract and made himself generally useful thereon, until after the time of his marriage, when he purchased eighty acres from his father and began the erection of a home for himself and family, including the necessary barn and outbuildings, and otherwise improved the place for general farming purposes. This land required considerable ditch- ing and draining and has been cleared, with the exception of ten acres of standing timber. The home is a modern brick structure, both commodious and comfortable, and gives the observer an impression of prosperity.

Mr. Meyer's marriage to Anna Ellerbrock took place October 14, 1896. She was the daughter of Ferdinand and Thracia (Klemm) Ellerbrock, the former having come to this country from Germany, with his parents when he was a lad of seven years of age. The parental grandparents, Theodore and Catherine (Trocke) Ellerbrock, coming to this country from Germany, settled near the town of Glandorf, Ohio, on forty acres of wild and un- cleared land and worked on the canal which was nearby. Ferdinand Eller- brock remained on this original forty acres and to which he added forty acres more prior to his death, on December 25, 1914, at the age of eighty- two years. He proved himself a good, substantial farmer and was highly esteemed by those who knew him, being noted for honesty and integrity of character; he was a true German, kind and loving, and a good provider for his family. His wife was a native of Ottawa township, this county, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Gerdeman) Klemm. To them were born eleven children, Catherine (Mrs. Meyer, deceased), Mary (Mrs. Barney Schmenk, Liberty township), Elizabeth (Mrs. Joseph Meyer, Liberty town- ship), Theodore (deceased), Joseph, of Pleasant township; Andrew, who lives on the home place; Anna (subject's wife), born November 19, 1875;

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Tracey (Mrs. Theodore Meyers, Blanchard township) ; Benjamin, who lives on the home place; Lucy (Mrs. Henry F Weiss, Ottawa township), and Agnes (Mrs. Anthony Weiss, of Ottawa township). To the marriage of Charles Henry Meyer and wife have been born the following children: Henry, Martha, Francis (a deceased infant), Mary, Agnes, Clara (a de- ceased infant), and Alfred.

Politically, Mr. Meyer is a Democrat but he has never had aspirations to hold an office, though, previous to his resignation in 1910, he had served on the local school board for ten years. He gives his support to the Catholic religion and the family are regular members of the church of that denomina- tion in Columbus Grove. Personally, Mr. Meyer is a hard worker and is well thought of in the community; he is a firm believer in modern farming methods, and gives considerable study to machinery inventions for the sav- ing of labor on the farm. He does not belong to societies of any kind, but is glad to consider every worthy fellow man as a brother and to render as- sistance to those who need it.

FRANK H. DOEPKER.

The vocation of blacksmith has ever been a prominent one in the indus- tries of this country and from the trade of the blacksmith has come the "arm and hammer" familiar to all, symbol of strength and honesty. One of the prominent citizens of Putnam county who is engaged in this occupation is Frank H. Doepker, who, because of his skill in his chosen vocation, is well known throughout this and adjoining counties.

Frank H. Doepker was born in Glandorf, this county, on April 8, 1867, a son of Joseph F. and Mary (Marmon) Doepker. Joseph F., father of Frank H., was a native of Germany, born in Glandorf, near Osuabrick, on November 12, 1836, and he emigrated to this country when a youth of six- teen years. He had received a good education in his native land, for a youth of his years and, almost immediately upon reaching the shores of this coun- try, he came to Putnam county, Ohio, and took up his residence in Glandorf. At that time that town was comparatively young, having been settled by a colony of Germans, under the leadership of the renowned Father Horstman. Near Glandorf, Joseph F. engaged in farming and about the time of the beginning of the Civil War. together with an uncle, named Maag, he took up government land, about one and one-half miles north of Ottawa, this

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county. There he remained for four years, at which time he moved to Ottawa and engaged in teaming and trucking. After several years spent in this manner, during which time he acquired a competency but suffered the loss of his health, he moved to Akron, this state, where he has since made his home with a daughter.

Joseph H. Doepker was married to Mary Marmon, who was born in this county in 1839, and whose death occurred in September, 1882. She was a daughter of Anton and Dorothy (Trent) Marmon, both natives of Germany, who were married in Hanover and in 1835 emigrated to this country, bringing with them their family of six little children. They located in Glandorf within a year after its settlement, and for a time the father worked on the construction of a canal in this county and, later, took up farming, purchasing the farm where John Marmon now lives, and passed much of his life there. This was virgin soil when he first obtained possession of it and the family endured the hardships and privations of the pioneer of that day. They cleared the land, erected the small cabin of pioneer days, cooked in the fire-place in winter and out of doors in summer, wove the materials for their own clothing, and in spite of all the hard work managed somehow to secure education and make for themselves some social inter- course with adjoining neighbors. There were nine children in all in the family. Those born in Germany were: Henry, William, Joseph, Christian, Frederick and Frank, and after settling in this county John, Mary (mother of Frank H.), and Bernadina, came to join the family circle. The father passed from this life in 1875 and the mother remained with the children until 1892, when she, too, laid aside the burden of the flesh. Both were devout members of the Catholic church, being of the parish of St. John, at Glandorf.

Joseph Doepker is the eldest member of the family, Frank H. being the second eldest, the other children being William, Josephine, John, Addie and Margaret. Joseph married Mary Konst, who has borne him three children, Mark, Lawrence and Irma. Josephine became the wife of William Kohls and has seven children; Stanislaus, deceased; Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Doro- thy, Agnes and Gertrude. John chose as his life companion Mary Horst- man and their children are Cornelius, Norman, Mary, Arnold, Elnora, Delphinus, Edward and Dorothy. Addie became the wife of Charles Rober- nalt and Margaret remains single.

Frank, our subject, received his education in the common schools of Putnam county and, after leaving school he secured employment in a wheel factory, where he remained for about six years. By that time, he had de-

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cided that in that line there was nothing in store for him in the future, and, possessing ambition to secure a competence for himself in the world, he decided the best course to pursue was to apprentice himself to a trade. Ac- cordingly, he selected that of blacksmithing as his life's vocation and in 1888 became an apprentice to this trade. He served for four years, when he embarked in business in partnership with his brother, Joseph. This partner- ship continued throughout fourteen years, when his brother retired from the firm and was succeeded by Frederick Lory and, later, by Mathias Schmenk, who is still a partner, the firm style now being Doepker & Schmenk. Throughout the years the business has been so conducted as to win the good will and patronage of the farmers throughout a large section.

Mr. Doepker's marriage took place on November 20, 1896, when he was united in wedlock with Katherine Noon, of Miller City, this county. She is a daughter of Patrick and Mary Noon, both natives of the Emerald Isle, who, emigrating to this country, located near Columbus, in Franklin county, this state. They remained there but a comparatively short time, how- ever, and forty-one years ago came to Putnam county, where they engaged in farming. Their children are: Patrick, John, Elizabeth, Cecelia and Delia, Thomas and Mary. Thomas first married Abbie Perky and, after her death, chose Emma Mann as his second wife. He is the father of five chil- dren, Elizabeth, Edward, Philip, Charles and Wilfred. Mary became the wife of Daniel Dangler and the mother of five children, Effie, Chester, Irvin, Homer and Lucile; Patrick married Hattie Robinson and his children are Harry, Elmer, Alvera and an infant son; John chose Mary Wagner as his wife, who bore him the following children, Anna, deceased; Albert, May, deceased; Arthur, Edna and Lawrence; Edward married Josephine Rech- tine and has one child, Lucile ; Cecelia is the wife of Frank Kerner and the mother of Mary Agnes, Cornelius and Loretta; Delia became the wife of Thomas Ducey and is without children.

Frank H. and wife are the parents of the following children: Lillian, born on February 12, 1896, who, after completing her high school course, fitted herself for a teacher and is now teaching in the school at Kiefersville; Arthur, born on June 16, 1898, remains at home and assists his father in the blacksmith business, and Mary Elizabeth, born on January 12, 1906.

Mr. Doepker is a progressive man in his business, his establishment being equipped with all modern devices. The mechanical section of the shop is operated by electricity and he also owns one of the latest acetylene welding devices. The business is a successful venture, due largely to his untiring industry and excellent workmanship. He holds his religious membership

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with the Catholic church and his fraternal affiliation with the Modern Wood- men and Catholic Knights of Ohio. He is a Democrat in politics, but exer- cises independent views in such matters. The family is considered among the most substantial and most highly respected of this county.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 139

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