History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 140

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744

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BERNARD LEOPOLD.

One of the best-remembered business men and farmers of the past gen- eration in Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, was the late Bernard Leopold. Of Mr. Leopold, personally, it may be said that he was a man of strong and active sympathy; his temperament was warm and ardent, his feelings deep and intense. These and other characteristics unconsciously drew him an unusual number of devoted friends, upon whom, in all circumstances, he could rely and who, now that he has passed from earthly scenes, revere his memory. He was a close student of human nature and comprehended, with little effort, the motives and purposes of men. He was a lover of truth and sincerity ; indeed, he is remembered as a manly man, of pleasing and dignified. presence; a student of many subjects and an influential man in the life of Putnam county. Of sound character and unflagging energy, he stood as a. conspicuous example of symmetrically-developed American manhood, and his position as one of the community's representative citizens was acknowl- edged by all. He was a native of a country which has given to the United States many noble minded citizens.

Bernard Leopold was born in Glandorf, in Hanover, Germany, in 1812, and was about seventeen years old when he came to America. He had in- tended to come with Professor Horstman and his party, who first settled Glandorf. To avoid being drafted for the army, the lad left before the others and was the first man to leave Glandorf for America. The ship was hung up for six weeks at Southampton, England, and, while there, another ship passed them which was bearing the first settlers of Glandorf. Mr. Leopold went to Cincinnati and there worked in a brickyard for a year.

In the spring of 1834, in company with Henry Siebeneck, Bernard Leopold started on foot and walked all the way to Glandorf. He entered eighty acres of land in Greensburg township, two miles west of Glandorf. He walked from Glandorf to the land office and then went back to Cincin- nati, where he remained for two years. He purchased a four-horse team and engaged in hauling lumber. While in Cincinnati, he often passed a.

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little girl of eleven years, named Elizabeth Siemer. He often took her up to ride with him on her way to school. Years afterward, he again met her and she became his wife.

In 1836 Bernard Leopold came back to Glandorf and started a little store, the first one in Glandorf. He was compelled to drive to Piqua to get his merchandise and it took two weeks in those days to make the round trip. Mr. Leopold was a very useful man to his community, as he would trade for anything which the settlers had to offer. His wife conducted the store much of the time, while he did the trading and the outside work. From a very early date, at least as early as 1842, he began packing pork and bought hogs from a large territory as far away as Leipsic, developing quite a busi- ncss. During the war he also salted cattle. About 1862 he quit packing pork and in 1863 closed his store.

In 1864 he prepared to build a hotel in Ottawa. He had the bricks made in his own brickyard in Glandorf. In 1865 he built the hotel on the south side of Main street, just west of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, and kept it until March, 1868, when he rented it to Allen Brothers. Mr. Leopold then purchased two hundred and forty acres of land north of Ottawa, of which forty acres is now inside the town limits. He made his home there the rest of his life and became the owner of a great deal of land at different times.

Bernard Leopold was married three times, his first and second wives each dying about a year after marriage, leaving no children. His third wife and mother of all of his children, was Elizabeth Seimer, who was the little girl who rode in his wagon years before in Cincinnati. She was born in Oldenburg, Germany, and came to America with her parents when ten years old. They settled at Fort Jennings in a little log house on the banks of the Auglaize river. Her father was a carpenter and cabinetmaker, but died a year after coming to this country. After her father died, it was decided to send the child to Cincinnati, where she could live with an elder sister and attend school. The little girl started on the way alone on foot with her be- longings in a pillow case, which she hung over her shoulders, suspended by a stocking sewed to the upper corners. She had only thirty-seven cents in money. People asked her if she was running away from home, but, upon hearing her story, treated her kindly and helped her on her way.

After she had finished school she returned to Fort Jennings and lived with her mother until her marriage.

Bernard Leopold died on August 6, 1891, and his wife followed him on November 5, 1904. Both of them were strong, able characters, influential and well known and worthy of the high esteem in which they were held by

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so many people. Bernard Leopold is gratefully remembered by many resi- dents of Ottawa, Glandorf and Putnam county, whom he helped in an early day.

THEODORE J. KERNER.

A prominent citizen of Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, is Theodore J. Kerner, a member of the firm of Falke Brothers & Kerner, monument manu- facturers and dealers. This firm has been in existence since November, 1904, although the business was started ten years previously by John Falke and C. Scherger & Sons, under the name of C. Scherger Sons & Company, and Theodore J. Kerner was employed as their representative. The business was first located at the corner of Walnut and Main streets, where the Dumont Hotel is now situated. In October, 1895, the firm bought the building where the business has since been conducted.

Theodore J. Kerner, the son of Matthias and Elizabeth ( Henry) Kerner. was born in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, March 27, 1861. His father was born in Rhein-Beuren, Germany, January 2, 1810, and came to America when a young man and located at Massillon, Ohio, and died in 1881. In that city Matthias Kerner married Elizabeth Henry, who was born on December 3, 1821, in western Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, and died in 1890. Matthias Kerner came to Putnam county, Ohio, in its early history, and was one of the earliest settlers to locate here. He made his permanent home in Greensburg township, buying a farm there, on which he lived until his death at the age of seventy-one. He increased his land holdings from time to time and later bought a farm in Union township and added another farm in Greensburg township. Nine children were born to Matthias Kerner and wife: Mary A., Joseph, Elizabeth, Phillip, Theresa, Bernardine, Cath- erine, Caroline and Theodore J.

Theodore J. Kerner was educated in the district schools of Greensburg township, and when he was about nineteen years of age, went to New Bavaria, Henry county, Ohio, to learn the blacksmith trade. He remained there three years, receiving twenty-five dollars for his first year's work ; fifty dollars for the second year, and seventy-five dollars for his third years' services. For five years he worked at the blacksmith trade altogether, spend- ing the last year or so in Defiance, Ohio. After recovering from an attack of typhoid fever, he went to his old employer at Holgate, who was then operating a general wood-working factory, and while working in this fac-

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tory, Mr. Kerner received an injury to his left arm which crippled him for life.

This injury to Mr. Kerner proved to be a turning point in his life. Although he was several years past his majority he made up his mind to become a school teacher. His elementary education had been very limited, and he knew that he would have to go to school in order to prepare himself to teach. Accordingly he went to Ottawa and attended the public schools- there for two years. He studied diligently, day and night, in order to pre- pare himself for some kind of professional career. He absorbed as much information in those two years as many people do in three times the same period, and had no difficulty in securing a license to teach. For the next ten years he taught school, beginning with a summer school just out of Ottawa, known as the New England school. He received the munificent sum of twenty-five dollars for his first summer's teaching. He had thrown his whole heart and soul into his profession, and gave such excellent satisfaction, that he was engaged for the winter term, and at the expiration of his first winter term he taught again the next summer. As a matter of fact, he taught winter and summer and really started the custom of giving summer and winter terms, with a longer vacation at the holiday time. Mr. Kerner made an enviable record as a teacher, remaining in the profession longer than he really wished to, because his patrons urged him to continue teaching. However, his health failed on account of the close confinement in the school room, and he was finally compelled to give up the profession. In 1895 he entered into the monument business, as has been previously mentioned, and he has given it all of his time and attention since.

Mr. Kerner was married on May 31, 1887, at Defiance, Ohio, to Magda- lena T. Ardner, who was born in Shelby, Richland county, Ohio, October 28, 1863, and is a daughter of Wendle and Anna (Rimlinger ) Ardner. Her father, who was born in 1823, was a native of Prussia, and was a weaver by trade in his native land, although after coming to America he followed farming. Anna Rimlinger was born in 1830. Her parents moved to De- fiance county, where they lived the remainder of their lives.

Mr. and Mrs. Kerner are the parents of five children: Margaret Anna, born on April 2, 1888, who is the wife of Charles B. Myer, of this county, and has one son, Urban; Alphonsus Philip, born on October 15, 1889, a farmer of this county, who married Emma Myer, and has one son, Clarence; Mary Matilda, born on June 3, 1892, of Columbus Grove, the wife of Ralph Shindler, and the mother of one son, Willard, and one daughter. Esstella; John Leo, born on October 28, 1893, single, and Pauline Elizabeth, born

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April 28, 1895, also single. The last two are still living with their parents in Ottawa.

Mr. Kerner is an active Democrat, but has never been a candidate for public office. He is not a partisan in any sense of the word and often votes for the best man, irrespective of political affiliation. The family are loyal adherents of the Catholic church, and Mr. Kerner was active in promoting, the Catholic Knights of Ohio, and has served as president of the local organization of Ottawa and has also filled the position of district state deputy, and organized Branch No. 60, at Miller City.

JOSEPH LEOPOLD.

Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and acts as a powerful stimulant to the efforts of others. The greatest results in life are often obtained by simple means, and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance. The everyday life with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experi- ence of the best kind, and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and self-improvement. One of Putnam county's most successful men, who has succeeded largely because of his industrious habits, is Joseph Leopold, of Ottawa, who is well known through his many activities here, having conducted the Leopold Hotel, of Ottawa, the Leopold elevator, and is still better known as the treasurer of Putnam county, having served in this capacity from 1893 to 1897. Mr. Leopold was twice elected to this office.

Joseph Leopold was born in Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, Septem- ber 21, 1845. He is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Siemer) Leopold, whose history is referred to elsewhere in this volume.

Joseph Leopold was educated in the common schools of Glandorf, and, later, attended college in Cincinnati for about two years. He resided on his father's farm until 1866, when he came to Ottawa with his father, and opened the Leopold Hotel, conducting this hostelry for two years. He then returned to the farm and engaged in buying and shipping live stock for several years. Later, he took charge of the Leopold elevator, buying and shipping grain until 1892. In that year he was elected on the Democratic ticket, as treasurer of Putnam county, taking office in September, 1893. He conducted this office upon strictly business principles, was pleasant and obliging to all, and

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in recognition of his merits was re-elected in 1894, and held the office for a second term. Indeed, it was only by a very small margin that his constitu- ents failed to put him in the office for a third term in 1898. This margin has been accounted for by one of those flukes in politics that was in nowise a reflection on Mr. Leopold and he left the office with the knowledge that he had performed his duties ably and well. After going out of office, Mr. Leopold resumed farming and has followed this occupation since that time. He has a farm in Palmer township, near Miller City, consisting of more than two hundred acres.

Joseph Leopold was married on May 4, 1871, to Elizabeth Recker, who was born on her father's farm about a mile south of Glandorf, Putnam county. She is a daughter of Herman Henry and Mary (Kottenbrock) Recker, and is a descendant of an honored pioneer family of Putnam county. A record of her parents is given in the sketch of Frank Recker, on another page of this volume. Suffice it to say here, that her father was a justice of the peace of Ottawa township for more than twenty-five years, and commis- sioner of the county for two terms, of three years each. He was a man of influence in his community, and widely known and respected by all.

Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leopold, two of whoin died in infancy, the others being Charles, Benjamin, Louis W., Mary, Bessie, and Herman Joseph, who died at the age of six. Charles married Catherine Roof, and lived on the Leopold farm until his wife died in August, 1899, leav- ing two children, Herman and Hildegarde. Charles Leopold himself died in 1902, and his children have made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Leopold ever since. Benjamin T. Leopold, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Leopold, lives in Ottawa, and has held several official positions in the county. He married Mallie Brinkman, who died January 25, 1913. Louis W. Leopold is a resident of New York city, and is engaged in the advertising business ; he married May Harker, and they have one son, Louis J. Mary, unmarried, lives at home with her parents. Bessie, also living at home, is a stenographer.

The Leopold family are all earnest and devout members of the Catholic church, and are actively interested in the work of this denomination. Joseph Leopold is one of those men who stand out in the civic and political life of a county as a leader of unquestioned merit. He has always been interested in public movements, and himself is a public-spirited citizen. Moreover, he is one of those men the value of whose work does not end when his active career ceases. The influence which he will have left behind will go on, not only to the succeeding generations of his own family, but to the succeeding generations living in Putnam county as well.

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DAVID ALEXANDER LEINSETTER.

Many farmers have been called to positions of official responsibility by the people of their community. In fact, the farm is a most prolific training school for citizenship, and especially for the public service, probably because it first trains for that high degree of rugged honesty so necessary in the public service. One of the most successful farmers of Liberty township, and one of the leading citizens of that township, is David Alexander Leinsetter.

Mr. Leinsetter was born on December 13, 1867, about five miles north- west of Leipsic, Putnam county, Ohio. Hc is a son of John A. and Eliza- beth (Krebs) Leinsetter. The history of the Leinsetter family is contained in the sketch of John A. Leinsetter, to be found elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Leinsetter grew to manhood on the home farm, and lived there until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he married. His mar- riage took place on January 1, 1891, at which time he was married to Emma Schweitzer, a daughter of Frederick and Christian (Gottmeier) Schweitzer.

Frederick Schweitzer, the father of Mrs. Leinsetter, was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, in 1844, the son of John Michael and Rosina ( Wolfinger ) Schweitzer, both natives of Wuertemberg, Germany, who came to the United States in their youth, and were married in this country. They lived and died in Fairfield county. Mr. Schweitzer lived on a farm until fifteen. years old, when he learned the shoemaker's trade and followed that occupa- tion in Lancaster. After he had learned this trade he returned to the farm and lived there until his marriage to Christina Gottmeier, who was born in Germany, and at the age of four years came to America with her parents. Philip Gottmeier and wife, who located in Lancaster, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage. In 1872, Mr. Schweitzer and wife came to Leipsic, and here he operated a shoe store, the first of its kind in Leipsic. It was located on the south side of Main street, just east of where the Ohio electric lines now run on the lot now occupied by Kuntz's grocery. He conducted this store for about four years, when it was sold to Mr. Maehlman. On account of his wife's health, Mr. Schweitzer moved to the country, where he farmed for about two years, after which he returned to Leipsic and resumed his trade, which he has followed since. Mr. Schweitzer was a member of the city council of Leipsic for a time. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom five died in childhood. Those living are as follow : David, of Toledo; Rebecca, the wife of Henry Pfiester, of Leipsic; Emma, the wife of David Leinsetter ; George, furniture dealer of Leipsic, and Albert, a resi-

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dent of Chicago. Mr. Schweitzer and his wife have been life-long members of the Lutheran church.

After Mr. Leinsetter's marriage, he farmed for one year on the home place, after which he moved to Leipsic and engaged in the hardware business in the firm of Pfister, Leinsetter & Company. He remained with this firm about a year, after which he followed the well-drilling business for a year. Finally, he bought eighty acres three and one-half miles northwest of Leipsic.

When he moved to this farm, there were only a log cabin and a small barn on the place, which was badly run down and only partly cleared. He has improved it and made of it a good farm, erecting a substantial brick house and many other good farm buildings.

To Mr. and Mrs. Leinsetter two children have been born, Earl Winfred and Edith Elizabeth. Mr. Leinsetter is a genial, wide-awake, enterprising citizen. He has been honored by the people of Liberty township on several occasions. He served as trustee of the township for over four years, first by election, and then by appointment, and became assessor of the township in 1914, and, in all of these various official positions, he has discharged his duties in a manner eminently satisfactory to the people of Liberty township.

Mr. and Mrs. Leinsetter are active and devoted members of the Lutheran church, to which they give liberally of their time and means. They are popular socially in their home township and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

GERHARD B. MEYER.

Ohio has been especially honored by the characters and careers of her farmers. In every section have been found men born to leadership in this vocation, men who have dominated because of their superior intelligence, natural endowment and force of character. It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activities and high excellence on the part of others. These reflections are suggested by the career of Gerhard B. Meyer, who during his life, forged his way to the front ranks of the farmers of Putnam county. By his inherent force of character, his buoyant business ability, he was able to direct and control the actions of his neighbors and fellow citizens. He was a leader in his vocation for more than a generation and few men in Putnam county achieved a more honorable position or occupied a more con- spicuous place as a farmer than the late Gerhard B. Meyer. His success was

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obtained by normal methods and means, determined application of physical and mental resources along correctly defined lines.

The late Gerhard B. Meyer was born in Hanover, Germany, on August 26, 1833, the son of Theodore and Anna (Mersman) Meyer. Gerhard B. Meyer came with his parents, in 1834, to Glandorf, Putnam county, and spent almost his entire life there. His father located on a farm in section 33, southwest of Ottawa, which he purchased from Professor Horstman. At that time it was all a new country and Indians were still in the vicinity.

On May 1, 1853, Mr. Meyer was married to Anna M. Moening, a sister of Henry Moening, whose life history is found elsewhere in this volume, and which gives the parental history of Mrs. Meyer. She was born in Ottawa township, southwest of Glandorf on April 29, 1835, and was the seventh child baptized in Glandorf. Theodore Meyer, Mr. Meyer's father, was connected with the organization of the church at Glandorf, where Mrs. Gerhard B. Meyer was baptized.

After his marriage, Mr. Meyer remained on the farm. He was born in Hanover, Germany, and after his father's death, purchased the interest of the other heirs in the estate. Gerhard B. Meyer owned, altogether, at one time, three hundred and eighty acres of splendid farming lands in Putnam county. He also conducted a threshing machine for many years and was successful in this business.

To Gerhard B. and Anna M. (Moening) Meyer, eleven children were born, of whom eight grew to maturity, Henry, who lives about two and one- half miles southwest of Leipsic; Theodore, who lives at Toledo; Joseph, who lives about one and one-half miles southwest of Leipsic; Herman, who lives about two miles southwest of Ottawa; Mary, who is the wife of Henry Kreinbrink, a farmer of the west edge of West Leipsic; Frank, who farms the old home place southwest of Ottawa; Kate, deceased, who was the wife of Frank Karhoff; and Lizzie, the wife of Joseph Kleman, who lives in the western part of Liberty township.

Gerhard B. Meyer died on September 17, 1900, and his wife died on March 6, 1912. With the passing of these venerable citizens, Putnam county lost two of its pioneer settlers and two of its most highly respected citizens. Gerhard B. Meyer was a modest, unassuming man, but he was a man of a deeply religious nature who believed in and practiced the fundamental prin- ciples of Christianity. He was one of those men of whom it may be truly said that he performed a noble work and that there must be given to him by the eternal order of things the reward laid up that is in store for those who do their duty well on this earth.

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GEORGE JACOB SCHRAM.

A review of the life of the honored and lamented George Jacob Schram must, of necessity, be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of his career, touching the struggles of his early man- hood and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of enterprising and public men of his- day and generation, and the luster of his deeds and the memories which attach to his name and character, form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of the community where he did his work and achieved his success. It is sufficient, however, to entitle him to an honorable position among the brave and energetic self-made men of Ohio, who, by enterprise and unswerv- ing integrity, forged to the front and won for the grand old Buckeye com- monwealth a place second to none in the bright constellation comprising the union. That he did his part nobly cannot be gainsaid, and, though de- ceased, he yet speaketh in the works which he accomplished and in the many kind deeds and wholesome influence, which, not only his friends, but the com- munity as well, prize as a great heritage.

George Jacob Schram was born in Fort Jennings on February 5, 1869, and was the son of John and Eva Schram, both of whom were natives of Germany, and who were early settlers in Putnam county, Ohio, where they. were farmers. Mrs. Eva Schram passed away early in life. The father, however, is still living.

The late George Jacob Schram received a common-school education, attending school during the winter months and assisting his father on the farm during the summer. In his youth, he was known as a young man of industrious habits and a clean mind and a wholesome heart. He grew to manhood as a young man of honorable and upright habits and was always highly respected.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 140

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