History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 39

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 39

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).

After Barney Henry Maag was married, he bought eighty acres, which is a part of the present farm, and subsequently bought twenty acres form his father and another twenty acres which was known as the "Avenish Farm," and adjoined his previous purchases. These holdings give him a total of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he has entirely remodeled or built new buildings, so that today this farm takes on the appearance of a well-kept, thoroughly-productive farm, being the result of unceasing energy, perseverance, and well-directed management. This land required consider- able ditching, draining and fencing, before it was entirely suitable for culti- vation and stock-raising and today it is considered highly productive and enables the owner to realize a satisfactory profit from his crops and the live stock he feeds. In addition to general farming Mr. Maag takes con- siderable interest in live stock, particularly in full-blooded horses, and is

413

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

the owner of a Percheron-Norman stallion which is valued at a high figure and which is used for breeding purposes.

Mr. Maag does not take an active interest in any fraternal organiza- tions, nor is he active in politics, but has always supported the Democratic party and firmly believes in the progressive principles set forth by that party. He and his family are members of the Catholic church in Glandorf, Ohio, where they are regular attendants and contribute to the support according to their means. Mr. Maag is a member of the Putnam County German Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and, personally, is a man honored and re- spected by every one in the community that knows him. His acquaintance and friendship is large and socially he is a man well met.

WILLIAM RAMPE.

When Dean Swift gave utterance to that immortal passage in his Gulliver's Travels: "And he gave it for his opinion that whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass to grow where only one grew be- fore, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together," he paid the highest possible compliment to that large class of intelligent tillers of the soil whose most earnest endeavors are directed toward the effective cultivation of the lands under their charge and care. Under the scientific direction of the government's department of agriculture and the state's equally well-directed efforts along the same line, the farmers of Putnam county, in the present generation, are literally performing wonders in the way of intelligent, effec- tive agriculture and the public benefactor whom Swift foreshadowed in his imaginative way, has been outdone by many, the crop records of the past in this county not only having been doubled-two ears of corn growing where one grew before-but have been trebled, and more, by the careful tillage which the modern farmer has found so essential to the successful cultivation of his acres. Among these signally successful farmers of this section of the state, none have secured better results than many of those of German birth or ancestry in this county, who not only have brought to their important task the best lessons of intensive farming so carefully fol- lowed in the old country, but have applied to all their doings those equally valuable traditions of thrift and prudence, so characteristic of the people of the Fatherland. And among this latter class, few in Putnam county

414

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

are better known or more popular among his large circle of acquaintances than is William Rampe, a progressive and successful farmer of Ottawa township, to a brief sketch of whose career the biographer is glad to call attention at this point in this interesting review of the lives of the leading citizens of Putnam county.

William Rampe was born in Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, on a farm close to the town of Ottawa, April 27, 1859, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Nottingbrock) Rampe, both of whom were natives of Ger- many.

Joseph Rampe was born in Glandorf, Hanover, Germany, in 1825 and upon reaching manhood's estate immigrated to America, having become convinced that better opportunities awaited him on this side than he might hope to find presented in the old country. He landed in New York and at once entered upon the exercise of his trade, that of a tailor, in which he had become proficient before leaving Germany. In New York he worked at this trade until he had saved enough money to send back to Germany to secure the passage of his mother and three brothers to this country. Upon the arrival of these other members of his family, the Rampes con- tinued for a time to remain in New York, but presently pushed on further west, locating at Covington, Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati, where Joseph Rampe continued his trade as a tailor. After a sometime resi- dence there, he married Elizabeth Nottingbrock, who was born in Germany, August 27, 1827, daughter of Henry Nottingbrock, who came to America with her parents at the age of seven years and who died on March 12, 1915, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years, six months and thirteen days. Shortly following this marriage in 1844 Joseph Rampe and his wife joined the German colony in this county, Mrs. Rampe's parents having long been residents of the Glandorf community, where she grew up, and Joseph put in his lot with his father-in-law, with whom he and his wife made their home, helping on the Nottingbrock farm until the death of Mr. Nottingbrock, after which Joseph took charge, gradually paying off the obligations which rested against the Nottingbrock farm, eventually buying the same, which at that time consisted of fifty-three acres. To this he added, as his circum- stances grew better, until at the time of his death, at the early age of thirty- seven, in March, 1862, he was the owner of ninety-three acres of well- cultivated land. Joseph Rampe was an industrious man whose ambition was centered in his family and in the hope that their condition in life might be easier than his had been and, at his death, he was sincerely mourned by many in the community in which he had so cheerfully put in his lot. Joseph

415

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

and Elizabeth (Nottingbrock) Rampe were the parents of five children, Frank, Henry, two who died in infancy, and William, the immediate subject of this biographical review.

William Rampe spent his boyhood days in Ottawa township, growing: up on the homestead farm where he was born. Receiving such schooling as was provided at that period, at the age of sixteen, decided to try his fortunes further afield. With this object in view, he went to Missouri, where for four years he engaged in farming, "working out" to such advantage as might accrue to his labors. Not finding things in that state wholly to his liking, young Rampe returned home and helped on the farm until his. marriage, on March 3, 1886, to Anna Catherine Borgelt, daughter of William and Anna (Threasey) Borgelt, who was born on April 29, 1867, on the home place in Ottawa township. An interesting review of the career of the Borgelt family in this county is presented on another page of this volume in the biographical sketch relating to Herman Borgelt, a brother of Mrs. Rampe.

Following his marriage, William Rampe lived for four years in the home of his father-in-law in Ottawa township, assisting in the management of the farm, at the end of which time he bought his present home farm of eighty acres in Pleasant township. This land was all heavily timbered when he bought it at an appraised value of two thousand two hundred dollars. The farm at that time was undrained, there being no outlets for ditches and, in bringing his place to its present excellent state of cultivation, Mr. Rampe incurred an indebtedness of three thousand two hundred dollars, which he has regarded as a good investment. By hard work and close application he has made a good farm of his timber tract, clearing, ditching and other- wise improving the same, and has a good house and all necessary out- buildings. He is now regarded as one of the most prosperous farmers in his- neighborhood.

To William and Anna Catherine (Borgelt) Rampe were born two chil- dren, Joseph Edward, an ambitious young farmer of Sugar Creek township, who married Emma Buckradd and has three children, Raymond, Anna Louisa Francisco and Ruth, and William Sylvester, who died at the age of ten months.

The Rampes are members of the Catholic church at Glandorf and are devoted to the best interests of that parish, being also active in such other good works as concern most intimately their immediate neighborhood and are very properly held as among the leading people of that section of the county. Mr. Rampe is a Republican, having cast his first vote for Presi- dent Garfield, and takes an intelligent interest in local politics, though he

416

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

never has been included among the office-seeking class. He is a member of the Order of the Reindeer, belonging to Ottawa Lodge No. 516, and takes an active interest in the affairs of that fraternal organization. He is a jolly companion, a kind and loving husband and father, a lover of children, essentially a "home man," and bears a high reputation in his community be- cause of his honesty, frankness and sincerity in all his relations with his fel- low men.

JOHN W. HALKER.

One of the best known citizens of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, is John W. Halker. His whole career of more than three score years has been spent within this county. His father came here in 1843 from Glandorf, .Germany, located in Union township, and made this county his home the re- mainder of his life. Mr. Halker began business for himself in 1881, in Glan- dorf, and has since made this village his home. He has always taken a very active part in the upbuilding of his community.

John W. Halker, the treasurer of the Glandorf Building & Loan Asso- ciation, was born in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, February 3, 1854. He is a son of H. W. and Catherine (Beucher) Halker. His father was a native of Glandorf, Germany, and came to this country when he was about thirty years of age, locating in Putnam county in 1843, on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He improved this farm and made it his home until 1860, when he moved to Glandorf and engaged in the grocery and saloon business, until his death, August 18, 1890, at the age of seventy-seven. H. W. Halker was married in this county to Catherine Beucher, who was born not far from Glandorf, Hanover, Germany, and died at Glandorf, Put- nam county, Ohio, in February, 1897. There were seven children born to H. W. Halker and wife, Mary, who died in January, 1891, the wife of Henry Nolte, of Delphos, Ohio; David, of Ottawa; John W., of Glandorf; Cather- ine, living in Glandorf, Ohio; Matthew; Aggie, the wife of Lawrence Bohn, of Toledo, Ohio; Henry, who died in 1906, having survived his wife, who now lives in Glandorf.

John W. Halker was educated in the schools of Glandorf, and finished his education in Cincinnati. He began business for himself in 1881 by open- ing a grocery and saloon in Glandorf, and continued in this business, success- fully, until 1903, when he disposed of it to his brother, Henry. Mr. Halker helped organize the Glandorf German Building & Loan Association in 1887,

MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. WALKER,

417

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

and since its organization has been an official, serving as appraiser, a mem- ber of the finance committee, treasurer and president. He is also secretary of the Glandorf German Mutual Insurance Association. In addition to this, he is interested in agriculture, and owns considerable land in the vicinity of .Glandorf, besides his beautiful home and other property in the village. He has long been one of the leaders in his county and is a man of unquestioned integrity. For four years he served as treasurer of his township, and for twenty-five years was treasurer of the St. John's Benevolent Society, severing his connection with this society in November, 1913. He has been active in the councils of the Democratic party of Putnam county, and has been one of its leaders for many years. He is of a sociable disposition and is well known and universally liked throughout the county. He is a broad-minded and progressive man, and has always been foremost in promoting enterprises which were calculated to benefit his home town or the public at large.

Mr. Halker was married on October 10, 1894, to Lizzie Franke, who was born and reared in Glandorf, and is a daughter of Frederick and Cathe- rine (Ellerbrock) Franke.

Frederick Franke, the father of Mrs. Halker, was born about three miles from Essen, Saxony, Germany, in 1843, and is a son of Ernest Franke. After his mother's death he was brought to America by his father when he was five years of age. Ernest Franke was a blacksmith and operated a shop in Palmer township, on the edge of the prairie, at a time when wolves and other dangerous beasts were still roaming the forests. Ernest Franke was a fine workman and was an expert cutlerymaker. He died when Frederick was about nine years of age at which time the boy was bound out until he was eighteen. At the opening of the Civil War, Frederick Franke enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. After his return he finished learning the shoe- maker's trade and became a fine workman. He went to Cincinnati and worked at his trade for three years, in the meantime attending night school. While in that city, he also learned to be a stationary engineer, and upon re- turning to Putnam county he became the engineer at the woolen mills in Glandorf for several years. However, this close confinement was undermin- ing his health, when he became an agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Com- pany and worked for them for fifteen years, at the expiration of which time he resigned his position with this company and became the manager of the lumber yard in Glandorf, retaining this position for ten years. He bought a share in a lumber and planing mill at Kalida in 1907 and two years later was

418

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

injured by a machine in the mill and was compelled to retire from active work. He is now making his home at Kalida. Catherine Ellerbrock, the wife of Frederick Franke, was born at Glandorf, and is a daughter of Diet- rich Ellerbrock and wife. Her people came from Hanover, Germany, in 1834, and located at Glandorf, in Putnam county, among the very first settlers.

Mr. and Mrs. Halker are consistent members of the St. John's Catholic- church at Glandorf, and are deeply interested in its welfare, being generous. contributors to its support, always punctual in their fulfillment of church duties.

Mrs. Halker's many activities brought her in touch with kind and loving friends. In accord with her husband's interests, she was a devoted helpmeet, a faithful wife and an inspiration to those who knew her. She died in. March, 1915.

AMOS WILBUR BEST.

Amos Wilbur Best, one of the leading farmers of Union township, was born in the same township, on the farm on which he still lives, October 26, 1869, the son of John Calvin and Sarah A. (Nichols) Best, the former- of whom was born in Rose township, Carroll county, Ohio, December 16, 1841, the son of George and Sarah (Wagner) Best, the latter of whom was- born in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, March 22, 1841, the daughter of Edward and Margaret (Erwin) Nichols.

George Best, grandfather of the immediate subject of this sketch, was. the son of John Best and was a life-long farmer. He was reared on the farm in Rose township, Carroll county, Ohio, on which he was born and' acquired such schooling as was provided in that period. He was a stone cutter, a brick mason and a carpenter, which trades he followed in the neigh- borhood in which he was reared. George Best was united in marriage to Sarah Wagner in 1840, who was born in Rose township, Carroll county, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Durst) Wagner, both of whom were born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the latter being of Irish: parentage, her brother, James, having been a soldier in the Mexican War.

Four years after their marriage, or in the year 1844, George Best and his wife and their two small children came to Putnam county and settled in Sugar Creek township, buying a tract of land which then was an utter wilderness of unbroken forest. This farm, in due course of time, was. brought to a high state of cultivation and here George Best and his wife-

419

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

reared their family and spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in May, 1874, at the age of fifty-four years, his wife surviving him many years, her death not occurring until in May, 1897. He was a stanch Democrat, took an active part in the political affairs of the county, and had served his town- ship several times in various capacities in public office. He was a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife was a member of the Christian church, and both were ever active in the good works of the community.

To George and Sarah (Wagner ) Best were born nine children, John Cal- vin, to whom reference is made below; Mary A., deceased, was the wife of David Hughes, of Macon county, Missouri; Sarah A., deceased, was the wife of George Holderman, of Newton, Kansas; Emeline, deceased, was the wife of Quincy Goodman, also now deceased, of Columbus Grove, Ohio; Anne, the wife of Sherman Hubert, of Dupont, this county; Jane, the wife of Lenial Sneary, living near Vaughnsville, in Sugar Creek township, this county ; Ella, the wife of William E. Nichols, of Grove Hill, Paulding county, Ohio; Arie R., the wife of Hendon Catlett, of Detroit, Michigan, and one child who died in infancy.

John Calvin Best was born in Carroll county, Ohio, and came to Put- nam county with his parents at the age of three years. In the schools of Sugar Creek township he received his education and was reared a farmer and carpenter. When little more than a boy, on August 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served until the close of the war. He took part in the battles of Moss Creek, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Duck River, Franklin, Nashville, Fort Anderson and numerous others, and during the latter part of the war, having been injured, was de- tailed as clerk in the quartermaster's department, under General Schofield, where he received his discharge at White Hall, Pennsylvania, in 1865.

John Calvin Best was united in marriage on January 16, 1868, with Sarah A. Nichols, of Union township, this county, whose father was a na- tive of Licking county, Ohio, and one of the earliest settlers in Putnam county. Further details of the genealogy of Mrs. Best may be found in the biographical sketch of her brother, Amos Nichols, of Union township, presented elsewhere in this volume. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Best lived for four years on a farm in Sugar Creek township and, in 1873, moved to their present farm in Union township. Here they originally had two hundred acres, which was reduced to its present extent of one hundred and twenty acres by the sale of forty acres and the gift to their son of another forty. The line between Sugar Creek and Union township divides this farm,

420

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

which is regarded as one of the best in that part of the county. John Cal- vin Best is a good farmer and is one of the substantial members of the com- munity. Mr. Best is a stanch Democrat, as was his father before him, and for many years has been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in his section of the county. He has been township trustee and a member of the county board of agriculture, besides which he has held minor township offi- ces. He and the members of his family are members of the Christian church. He is a member of Ogilvie Post, No. 64, Grand Army of the Republic.

To John Calvin and Sarah A. (Nichols) Best were born four children, Amos W., the immediate subject of this sketch; Alfred, a farmer of Union township, now deceased; Mrs. Sarah A. Streetor, deceased, and John E., a farmer of Union township, who married Daisy Miller and has one child, Sarah Eveline.

Amos Wilber Best, eldest son of John Calvin and Sarah A. (Nichols) Best was educated in the schools of his native township and was reared a farmer, remaining on the paternal farm until his marriage, at the age of twenty-nine, when he moved to the farm on which he now lives and where he has engaged in general farming with success. Mr. Best is a Democrat and takes an interest in political affairs, but is not included in the office- seeking class.

Amos Wilber Best was united in marriage on April 21, 1898, to Mary E. McCrate, daughter of Joseph McCrate, a member of one of the old families of this county, additional details of whose genealogy may be found in the bio- graphical sketch of Edward L. McCrate, a brother of Mrs. Best, which is pre- sented elsewhere in this volume. To the union of Amos Wilber and Mary E. (McCrate) Best, three children have been born, Gerald Pierce, Lawrence, and one who died in infancy. Gerald Pierce Best recently attained a notable bit of distinction by being one of the prize winners in the boys' corn- growing contest in this county, which not only secured to him the award of the prize offered by the William Kahle bank, at Ottawa, but secured for him a place in the delegation of Ohio boy corn growers which was sent to Washington under the state auspices and which received such signal attention at the hands of the President and the department of agriculture. He raised a fraction over one-half bushel more than one hundred and twenty- two bushels of corn on one acre of land on his father's farm, exercising in this fine agricultural exploit a degree of judgment and a knowledge of scientific farming which marked him as a youth of unusual parts. He is a very bright young man and was selected as one of the delegates representing

421

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

the boy corn growers of the country to the Panama-Pacific Exposition, at San Francisco.

Mr. and Mrs. Best have a fine home on the main road to Kalida and take an active part in the social affairs of the neighborhood. They are both members of Ben Hur Lodge at Columbus Grove. Mrs. Best, before her marriage, was one of the leading school teachers in Putnam county, having taught for many years in the district schools. She is a member of the Catholic church at Columbus Grove and is a highly-educated woman. They have one of the good farms in the county, both in the matter of its soil as well as location, and are very pleasantly and comfortably situated.

AMOS C. DILLER.

Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the in- dividual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial de- velopment, it is impossible clearly to determine. The study of a successful life, whatever the field of endeavor, is none the less interesting and profit- able by reason of the existence of this uncertainty. So much in excess of those successes in life are the failures and semi-failures that one is com- pelled to examine and analyze to find proximate causes. In studying the life history of Amos C. Diller, former school teacher and now a successful tile manufacturer and farmer, as well as poultry fancier, we find many qualities in his make-up that win success. For many years, Mr. Diller was a successful teacher in the schools of Putnam county. Subsequently, he became an enterprising farmer, and, during these years, he has looked after the details of several business enterprises, including a tile factory, and has finally devoted a considerable amount of time to fancy poultry, with which he has also been successful.

Amos C. Diller was born on June 21, 1871, in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of John G. and Elizabeth (Schumacher ) Diller. John G. Diller was also born in Riley township, February 21, 1841, the son of Peter and Barbara (Suter) Diller. Peter Diller was born about 1813, in Alsace-Lorraine, and was the son of Christian Diller and wife, the former of whom was a farmer.

Peter Diller came to America at the age of fourteen with his mother and elder brother, John, the father having previously died. They arrived in America about 1827, and settled first in Holmes county, but some time

422

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

later came to Putnam county. They settled in Riley township, where Peter Diller entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 26. This became the old Diller homestead. He later added other lands unil he owned three hundred and twenty acres.

When Peter Diller settled in Putnam county, he was unmarried. He first entered his land, built a log cabin, and, about a year later, was married to Barbara Suter. He took up his residence on the new homestead when all of his worldly goods consisted of one horse and a wagon and a few supplies with which to begin his battle with the wilderness. His were the common experiences of the pioneers. He and his wife suffered all of the privations and hardships incident to such life. He was compelled to go either to Perrysburg or Tiffin to mill, such trips taking several days. Peter Diller and wife had eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to maturity, with the exception of one son, Christian, who died at the age of sixteen years. They were Christian, Adam, John, Magdalena, Benjamin, Peter, Mary and David.

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 39

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