History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 141

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 141

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The late George Jacob Schram was married on April 2, 1892, to Nellie W. Huysman, who was born on December 4, 1868, and who was the daugh- ter of Aaron and Gretchen (Osenga) Huysman, the former of whom is a native of Holland, born on December 15, 1838, and the son of Henry Peter and Nelly Huysman. To this very happy union three children were born, all of whom are now living : Aaron was born in May, 1893 ; he lives at home and operates the home farm for his mother. Margaret was born on April 26, 1895, and is now attending school; William was born on August 12, 1897, and he, likewise, is at home.

After a long and useful life, but a life all too brief, by his many worthy

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deeds and loving kindness, George Jacob Schram passed away September 22, 1908. He was a man who will long be remembered in Monterey township as one of its leading citizens and farmers. Although modest and unassuming in manner, he was possessed of a deeply religious nature, and throughout his life was devoted to the work of the Lutheran church, in which he, as well as the members of the family who survive, have always been earnest and active supporters. Mr. Schram did not toil in vain; his widow and children were left well provided for. Mrs. Schram owns ninety-five acres of splendid land in Monterey township. The farm has been improved from time to time and now has modern buildings, and imposing house and a commodious barn. Much of this work was performed by the departed husband and father, and his influence did not cease with his death, but will go on to bless the loving widow and the children, who will strive the harder to follow the upright example which he left.

BARNEY BRUSKOTTER.

In the early days, the Middle West was often a tempting field for ener- getic, ambitious and strong-minded men. Ohio was filled with them dur- ing the time she was struggling for a respectable position in the sisterhood of states. During the twenty-five or more years subsequent to the admission of Ohio to the Union, there was a fascination in the broad fields of promise, which this new region presented. The country attracted many men and in- duced them to brave the discomforts of early life, for the pleasure and gratification of building their own fortunes in their own way. Many Europ- ean countries furnished pioneer citizens to the state of Ohio, but no country furnished a better class of citizens than Germany. A son of one of these early German settlers is Barney Bruskotter, the subject of this sketch. His father was among the pioneers of Putnam county, and since the coming of Barney Bruskotter, Sr., the family has been an important factor in the life of Putnam county.

Barney Bruskotter, Jr., was born in Greensburg township on May 26, 1864. He is the son of Barney and Christine (Edelbrock) Bruskotter. Barney Bruskotter, Sr., was born in Germany, as was also his wife. He came to the United States and to Putnam county and his wife came with her parents when she was a small child. Barney Bruskotter, Sr., was married in Putnam county. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living: Henry lives at Shepard, Michigan, on a farm;

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William died about 1909; Frank lives at Lima, Ohio; Barney, Jr., is the subject of this sketch; Katherine is the wife of Al Luersman; they live at Landeck, Allen county, Ohio; Thresa is the wife of Henry Weaging; they live in Jennings township; Anna is the wife of John Bearhide; they live in Cloverdale.

Barney Bruskotter, Sr., was a farmer. He owned a farm in Greensburg township and also owned land in Jennings township. He died in 1874; his wife survived until February 4, 1900.

Barney Bruskotter, Jr., received his early education in the common schools of Putnam county. He lived on the farm and performed the usual labor which falls to the lot of the country boy, and remained with his parents until his marriage.

Mr. Bruskotter, Jr., was married on August 24, 1893, to Miss Katherine Bearhide, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Leopold) Bearhide, both natives of Germany, the former came to this country alone when a young man. His wife came with her parents. They were married in Putnam county and were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are still living : Mary died at the age of forty-two; Elizabeth is the wife of William Horstmann, and they live at Montana, Putnam county; Wilemine is the wife of William Bruskotter, who died in 1905 ; his widow lives at Ft. Jennings; Katherine is the wife of Barney Bruskotter, Jr., the subject of this sketch; she was born December 20, 1864. Henry lives in Jennings townships; John lives at Cloverdale; Frank lives in Jennings township, and Anna, is the wife of Benjamin Unver- ferth ; they live at Ottawa. Mrs. Anna Bearhide was married first to Fred Kramer, and by this marriage was the mother of one son, Fred Kramer, who died in August, 1909. After the death Mr. Kramer, Mrs. Kramer married Mr. Bearhide. Henry Bearhide, who was a farmer, died on April 8, 1905; his wife survived until May 5, 1915.

To Mr. and Mrs. Barney Bruskotter, Jr., five children have been born, all of whom are living : Elenore was born on April 9, 1894; she lives at home. Veronice was born on January 10, 1896; she is a teacher and also lives at home; Leander was born on September 10, 1897, and lives at home; Helen was born on October 29, 1902, and is at present attending school; Florence was born on November 20, 1904, and is attending school.

Barney Bruskotter owns ninety acres of land in section 9, in Jennings township. He has made extensive improvements and additions on this farm, including a barn and house. Mr. Bruskotter raises a high grade of live stock and has been very successful as a farmer in Putnam county.

The family are members of the Catholic church at Ft. Jennings. Politic-

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ally, Mr. Bruskotter is a stanch Democrat. He is now serving his fourth year as trustee of Jennings township, and is president of the township board, in which position he is serving his second year. Barney Bruskotter is a man well respected in his community; a man who is liberal in support of public enterprises, who is rearing an industrious family, and whose name is a credit to the community where he resides.

WILLIAM V. TRASK.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review has . proved himself worthy of representation in a work of this nature by reason of his unfaltering duty to his fellow citizens and by constantly advocating those things which make for the betterment of mankind. He is looked up to by his friends and acquaintances and all who know him on account of his firm convictions and because he earned a goodly share of this world's goods, by having led a life of thrift and industry. He has always been ready to lend a helping hand to the advancement of good policy and his life has been one of unceasing activity. Having pursued his career and achieved success by honorable means he is regarded as one of Putnam county's leading and substantial citizens.

William Trask was born in Pleasant township on February 10, 1866, and is the son of John and Rachel (Kidd) Trask. The father was born on March 22, 1835, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and is the son of Isaac and Margaret (Jack) Trask, who came to Putnam county in 1837 and settled in Ottawa township near the town of Ottawa. John Trask was twice mar- ried, the first time to Elizabeth Casebolt and by this union two children were born, Isaac N. on June 21, 1857, who resides in the state of Nebraska, and Susan J., July 9, 1858, died on January 7, 1859. Soon after his first mar- riage, John Trask removed to a fifty-acre farm in Pleasant township, this county, to which he added one hundred and seventy-four acres at a later date and the total acreage of two hundred and twenty-four acres he retained and farmed until the time of his death. His second marriage occurred on August 12, 1862, to Rachel Kidd, daughter of Ezra and Julia A. (Hooper) Kidd and was born on January 7, 1843. Her parents settled in Putnam county in 1837 and to their union were born six children, the names and birth date as follow : Kemerer, on March 14, 1861, died on September 24, 1870; James W., May 25, 1863, who resides in Vinita, Oklahoma; William, the subject

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of this sketch; Guy, May 23, 1874, who resides in Detroit, Michigan; Zoe, April 15, 1876, died on August 9, 1877, and Harry, April 27, 1879, who is a practicing physician in Detroit, Michigan. On September 12, 1893, the father of these children died on the homestead farm. His wife's father, Ezra Kidd, was born on May 5, 1817, in Washington county, Ohio, which place he left when a very young man, accompanied by his father and settled near the town of Rockport, Ohio. He left this homestead at a later date and came to Columbus Grove, Ohio, and farmed for several years in Pleas- ant township. At a later date he sold out the Pleasant township farm and rented property in Sugar Creek township, near the town of Vaughnsville, where he remained until September 12, 1893, which was the year of his death. His wife was a native of Franklin county, Ohio, near the city of Columbus, where she was born on May 13, 1821, and after living a peaceful and most useful life, she died on August 16, 1886. To their union were born twelve children, Rachel, the subject's mother ; Mary Jane ( Postlewaite), who died in 1912; Washington, who died in infancy; Rhoda (Thompson) ; Philip; William; James, deceased; John; Sarah (Barnam) ; Vance; Cassius, and an unnamed infant. The father of these children was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party while the family belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.

It should not be omitted in this review that "Grandpa" James Jack served his country in the War of 1812 and that John Trask had four brothers who served in the Civil War. In this war Nathaniel was killed at the battle of Chickamauga; James lost his left arm; Robert was mustered into the service, but never left the city of Columbus, Ohio, for action, and William was killed at the battle of Stone's River.

William Trask spent the days of his youth on his father's farm, re- ceived his education in the township schools, and has continued to live on the place ever since. On June 24, 1884, he was married to Ella Buck, daugh- ter of Henry and Susan (Wagner) Buck, who was born in Pleasant town- ship. Her father was also born in Pleasant township on July 21, 1839, and was the son of Benjamin Denton and Almeda (Conant) Buck. Benjamin D. Buck was a native of Pennsylvania and the home place was near the Susquehana river. He was born on July 7, 1802, and came to Medina county, Ohio, when a boy, where he grew to manhood and was married. In 1835 he came to Putnam county and entered three hundred and twenty acres of land, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died on Septem- ber 16, 1865, at the age of sixty-three years. Subject's wife's mother, Susan (Wagner) Buck, was a native of Athens county, Ohio, and left there at the

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age of eight years for Putnam county, and was accompanied by her parents. Here she grew to womanhood and died on January 1, 1879, in the thirty- seventh year of her age. Henry Buck was twice married, the first time, in the year 1863, to Susan Wagner who was born on April 13, 1841. To their union were born four children, Ella (Trask), of Columbus Grove, Ohio; Laura (Webster), of San Gabriel, California; Henry E., of Pleasant town- ship, this county, and Albert, who is residing in the state of Texas. The second marriage occurred in 1881, when he took Mary Jane Leonard to be his wife and to which union there were no children. She died on March 4, 1911. Henry Buck spent all of his boyhood days on his present farm, consisting of sixty-six acres, in Pleasant township, and during his time has creditably held the office of township trustee for twelve years. He was also justice of the peace for about ten years; has always been a Republican in politics and religiously is not identified with any particular denomination, but formerly was a member of the United Brethern church. He was one of seven children, William, Seth, Benjamin, Lovina, Orson, Henry and Lewis Denton, who lives in the state of Kansas. The first five are deceased.

Soon after his marriage, William Trask removed from the old farm, which consisted of one hundred and four acres, to a forty-acre farm, which is situated across the public highway from the old place. On this place he made all the improvements necessary to put the farm in first-class condition and is very successful in raising a general line of crops. To him and his wife have been born eight children, Ethel, who married Charles Gettman, and has two children, Robert and Leora; Ralph, who died at the age of ten years; Pratt, who married Grace Lee, and lives in Columbus Grove, Ohio, where he conducts a barber shop. They have one child, Mildred; Guy, of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Lena; Clifford; Irene and Virgil, all of whom reside under the parental roof.

William Trask is a man widely known throughout Putnam county and is particularly noted for his sterling character, strict attention to his own affairs and for the consistent support that he gives to all meritorious enter- prises that are intended for the welfare and advancement of the community at large. He has creditably served as township trustee for one year of a two year's term, takes an active and aggressive interest in supporting the principles of the Democratic party and religiously, is not identified with any particular denomination. Personally, he is a man worthy of the respect of every one and on account of his kindly disposition, genial manners, and affability, it is a pleasure to have him numbered among one's friends and acquaintances.

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LOUIS VON LEHMDEN.

Among the men who have devoted their lives to the pursuit of agricul- ture, and who by unceasing energy and well-directed efforts have attained a good share of this world's goods, is the man whose name appears as the caption for his review. Descended from good old German ancestry and having had instilled into him the habits of frugality, thrift and industry, it is not surprising that Louis Von Lehmden should have won for himself the merited praise and high esteem of his fellow man and achieved a degree of success that entitles him to special recognition in a work containing the annals of Putnam county.

Louis Von Lehmden was born in Jennings township, Putnam county, Ohio, on May 14, 1846 and is the son of Francis and Elizabeth ( Helmkamp) Von Lehmden. The father was a native of Germany and came to this country when quite a young man and settled in Putnam county during the year 1835. The mother was also a native of Germany and came to America. with her parents when she was a very young girl and they settled in this county in an early day. Francis Von Lehmden and wife were married at a later date and to them were born three children, Francis, deceased; Lonis, the subject of this review, and Anna, who was married to Henry Baum- garte, now deceased, and she is living at present in Delphos, Ohio. The mother survived the father of these children and married a second time, her second husband being Henry Suever and to their union were born two chil- dren, William, deceased, and August. Mr. and Mrs. William Suever con- tinued to reside in Jennings township until the time of their deaths. He died in the year 1900, having survived his wife five years.

Louis Von Lehmden received his early schooling in the township schools. and remained with his parents until the time of his marriage, November 14, 1872, when Mary E. Gerker became his wife. She was a native of Putnam county and had lived there since her birth in 1849. To their union were born five children, all of whom are living, whose names are given in the order of their birth, Henry C. on July 8, 1874, who is engaged in the butcher business, in Ft. Jennings, this county; Amelia, November 11, 1876; William J., Octo- ber 28, 1879; Francis G., June 13, 1883; Edward J., May 19, 1889. All of these children make their homes with the parents at this time.

Louis Von Lehmden inherited from his parents an eighty-acre tract of fairly good farming land, to which he has added one hundred and five acres. A number of new and substantial farm buildings have been constructed, including the comfortable and well-built home place and a fine new barn

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building. These improvements have been made at considerable sacrifice and expense, but have added so materially to the value of the farm that the end justified the means and has contributed largely to the comfort and satisfac- tion of the entire family. On this place the business of general farming is. done and it is said that the production of grain and other products is well up with the average farm in this locality.

Mr. Von Lehmden is a persistent advocate of the principles of Democ- racy, takes quite an active interest in public affairs, and served the com- munity for three terms as township trustee, which office he filled with credit to himself and wholly satisfactory to everyone concerned and has also been a member of the board of school directors for many years. Mr. Von Lehm- den is not a member of any social or fraternal organization, but, religiously, the entire family are regular attendants and devout members of the Catholic church in Ft. Jennings. Personally, Mr. Von Lehmden enjoys the con- fidence and high regard of every one in his community and possesses attri- butes and characteristics that fully entitle him to the respect and considera- tion of his fellow men.

HERMAN FRANK MEYER.

Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages, and as. a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free, outdoor life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood. No truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority of our nation's greatest warriors, renowned statesmen and dis- tinguished men of letters were born on the farm, and were indebted largely to its early influence for the distinction which they have attained.

Herman Frank Meyer, a prosperous and enterprising farmer of Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born two miles southwest of Ottawa, on October 3, 1873. He is a son of Gerhard B. and Anna M. (Moening) Meyer. Herman Frank Meyer has lived all his life on the farm where he now resides, and where he was born.

Mr. Meyer was married on August 31, 1898, to Paulina Karhoff, who was born northwest of Glandorf, in this county. She is a daughter of

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Frank H. and Agnes ( Niese) Karhoff. Frank Karhoff was born on June 26, 1850, on the farm where he now lives, one mile northwest of Glandorf. He is a son of Herman Henry and Adeline (Grote) Karhoff, the former a native of Holland, and the latter a native of Germany. Herman Henry Karhoff came to America at the age of twenty-three years. His future wife came to this country on the same ship. Eventually, he came to Putnam county, Ohio, and purchased two hundred and eighteen acres of land near Glandorf. Mrs. Meyer's father was only ten years of age when her grand- father died. The grandmother remained on this farm, reared her children, and spent her old age there with her son, her death occurring on August 9, 1895, at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Meyer's father was reared on the farm near Glandorf, and was married, August 3, 1870, to Agnes Niese, who was born north of her present home, and who is the daughter of Barney and Catherine (Lafkon) Niese, the former a native of Prussia, and the latter of Hanover, Germany. Mrs. Meyer's father has been an extensive breeder of thoroughbred Durham cattle, but gave up this branch of farming some years ago. Mrs. Meyer is one of ten children born to her parents, Frank B. first married Katie Meyer. She died, leaving an infant son, Harry, and he afterward married Lucy Hulsman, to which union five children were born, Laura, Edwin, Philomina, Alma and Edna. Frank lives at the east edge of Greensburg township, north of the Ottawa & Kalida pike; Henry Karhoff married Lucy Ellerbrock, and lives north of Kalida on the Napoleon road. They have seven children, Delia, Lawrence, Amos, Francis, Cornelius, Emma and Raymond; Amelia is the wife of Mathias Robke, and lives in Clover- dale. They have two sons, Frank and Albert; Paulina is the wife of H. F. Meyer, and lives southwest of Ottawa, and they have six children, Albert, Lawrence, Felix, Luella, Mary and Agnes; Philomina is the wife of Ben Brinkman, and lives one and one-half miles from Kalida on the Columbus Grove pike, and they have three children, Edwin, Hilda and Norma; John married Lena Hulsman and lives in the northwest part of Pleasant township, and they are the parents of three children, Ida, Urban and Leo; Emma is the wife of Edwin Brinkman, and they live in the southwest part of Liberty township. They have two children, Alice and Mary; Albert married Agnes Stechschulte and lives near the northwest corner of Ottawa township; Lewis and Barney are unmarried and living at home. Albert and Lewis are twins, born on February 20, 1891.

Herman Frank Meyer now owns one hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, on which he carries on a diversified system of farming and has met with a very commendable degree of success in his efforts.

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Mr. Meyer and family are devout members of the Catholic church at Glandorf. In fact, both the Meyer and Karhoff families are and have been for many generations members of this church, and are actively interested in its welfare, contributing generously to its support. Mr. Meyer lives on the old home farm, where he has a splendid brick residence, good barns, well- kept fences and fields, and his farm presents a very attractive appearance. He is an enterprising and progressive farmer, and a man well entitled to recognition in a volume of this character.

MATHIAS BRINKMAN.

Although Mathias Brinkman may not have been one of the pioneer settlers of Putnam county, yet, he has ben a life-long resident in this com- munity and by his indomitable courage, persistent endeavor and successful career, has stamped his impress on those with whom he has come in contact and is worthy of the praise and admiration of his fellow men for his high personal character and attainment of a due measure of success by his own efforts. The qualities which have made Mr. Brinkman one of the prominent and successful agriculturists of this county have been those of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.

Mathias Brinkman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 20, 1852, and is the son of Frank and Elizabeth (Winkelman) Brinkman, both of whom were born in Germany and came to this country with their respective parents at different times and when they were very young. Frank Brinkman settled in Cincinnati when he came to America and was employed there at various kinds of labor. This was in the year 1847, and after a few years in that city, he was married to Elizabeth Winkelman. Leaving Cincinnati, in the year 1856, he decided to move to Delphos, Ohio, where he remained a short time and during October of the following year he purchased eighty acres of land in Jennings township, Putnam county, on which land he made his home for the remainder of his life, his death occurring, September 19, 1891. Frank and Elizabeth (Winkelman) Brinkman were born seven chil- dren, Mathias, the subject of this review ; Elizabeth, the wife of John Helmick who lives in Van Wert county; Gerhart, who resides in Jennings township, and who died on June 20, 1915; Anna, who married Henry Krietemeyer. lived in Monterey township, this county, and who is now deceased since April 10, 1898; Frank, who lives on the homestead place in Jennings town-

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ship, and two children that died in infancy. The mother of these children lived until July 19, 1903, and both the father and mother were devout mem- bers of the Catholic church in Ottoville.

Mathias Brinkman received his early education in the neighboring schools of Jennings township and remained under the parental roof until about the time of his marriage to Anna Wolke on February 14, 1882, born on September 24, 1862. She was a daughter of Henry and Angeline (Lampe) Wolke who were both natives of Germany and are now deceased, Henry since March 16, 1915, and Angeline since April 27, 1902. Soon after his marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brinkman went to live on a farm consisting of eighty acres which he owned and which is located in section 18, about one mile northeast of Ottoville. On this place Mr. Brinkman has made a great many improvements, consisting of a new barn and modern house, besides the building necessary for the care of farm machinery, etc. He devotes all of his time to general farming and stock raising and by economical manage- ment has been able to produce grain and stock at a fair margin of profit to himself. To their union were born eleven children, of whom seven are liv- ing, Mary, on November 22, 1882; Elizabeth, July 2, 1884, who was married to Edward Schwertner on June 25, 1913, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio; Emma, born January 16, 1886, who married Louis Ricker on August 30, 19II, and who lives in Van Wert county, Ohio; Gerhard, born on September 26, 1887; Eleanora, born on March 25, 1894; Hildegard, born on April 30, 1897, and Sylvester, born on December 25, 1900; Mary and four children who died in infancy. The last four named making their residence with the father and they all mourn the loss of a devoted, loyal and true wife and mother who passed from this earth on May 13, 1904, and lies at rest in the cemetery in Ottoville where she was buried according to the rites of the Catholic church of which the family are members.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 141

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