History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 65

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 65

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ship, Putnam county, and settled on eighty acres of land one and one-half miles southwest of Vaughnsville. This farm was located on the Old Ridge road. It was in a virgin state at the time he purchased it, and had only an acre or two cleared. Josiah Edwards proceeded to clear and drain the land and improve it. He succeeded in getting it all cleared, except eight acres. He built a large frame house of ten rooms, in 1873, and a large frame barn in 1879. To this land, he later added forty acres more. He was always engaged in general farming, was a very successful farmer and attributed his success mostly to the raising of corn and hogs. He was also successful in raising horses.

Josiah and Susan ( Breese) Edwards had one child before they came to America. This child, John, who was but four years old when his par- ents came to Allen county, died the day after their arrival at Gomer. There were five children born to Josiah Edwards and wife, John was born in Wales on January 21, 1851, and died at Gomer on November 8, 1855; Mar- garet is the deceased wife of B. F. Thomas; Joseph B. is a farmer in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county; Mary is the wife of Thomas S. Williams; John W. is the subject of this sketch. Josiah Edwards died on . August 17, 1897, at the ripe old age of seventy-one. He and his wife were members of the Gomer Congregational church, of which he was a deacon for many years. Josiah Edwards was a Republican. He enlisted, in 1864, in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days, and was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He was on duty, near Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. Josiah Edwards, Jr., was mustered into the service for one hundred days on May 13, 1864, and was mustered out on August 27, 1864.

Mrs. Susan (Breese) Edwards, the wife of Josiah Edwards, Jr., was a daughter of John and Mary ( Edwards) Breese, and was born in North Wales, in Montgomeryshire, May 13, 1827. She had one brother and five sisters, all of whom came to America, and all of whom, except one sister, Mrs. Sarah Morris, settled in Iowa. She settled in Vaughnsville and there died. Mrs. Susan (Breese) Edwards lived on the old home place until her death, November 5, 1909.

John W. Edwards spent his childhood and youth on the old homestead of his father, southwest of Vaughnsville. He attended the old Bryne Tawa school, and after finishing school, continued helping his father on the old home place.

At the age of twenty-two, Mr. Edwards was married to Zoe Gardner,

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who was born in Vaughnsville on January 14, 1872, and who was a daughter of Henry and Angelina (Calhoun) Gardner, the former of whom was the the sixth of seven children born to Samuel and Catherine Gardner, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Samuel Gardner was born in 1802, and died in Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio, in 1863. His wife, Cath- erine Gardner, was born on June 19, 1809, and died at Columbus Grove, April 16, 1887. Samuel Gardner was a blacksmith by trade, and a captain of militia during pioneer days. He was a Presbyterian and his wife a member of the Lutheran church. Henry Gardner was born in Richland county, Ohio, June 18, 1840, and from the age of eighteen years until 1890 was a blacksmith. He then became a merchant. Samuel Gardner moved with his family to Mercer county, Ohio, in 1850, and purchased an improved farm. He remained there eight years and then removed to Wayne county, and finally settled at Bluffton. Henry Gardner enlisted in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry in 1861 and served three years in the Army of the Cumberland. He was honorably discharged at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married in 1866 and engaged in hotel keeping, at Columbus Grove, Ohio, about a year, when he settled at Vaughnsville. He served as township trustee and as treasurer of the school district, and was a census taker in 1880. His wife, Angelina Calhoun, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, October 24, 1845, and was a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Calhoun. Henry and Angelina (Calhoun) Gardner had five daughters, Minnie, Carrie, Zoe, who married Mr. Edwards; Maud and Blanche. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were married on February 23, 1893,. After their marriage, Mr. Edwards rented his father's farm, the old homestead. This arrangement existed until after his mother's death, in 1909, at which time he purchased the farm from the heirs. The same year, February 1, 1909, the Peoples Bank opened for business in Vaughnsville, and Mr. Edwards was elected as cashier of that institution, which position he has held up to the present time. Mr. Edwards, however, continues to supervise the operations of his farm. He has always done general farming. He moved from the farm and took up his residence in Vaughnsville in November, 1912, where he now resides. His residence, which he purchased in 1912, is a modern eight-room house, beautifully sit- uated, and bespeaks the character and culture of its owner.

Henry Gardner, father of Mrs. Edwards, died on August 29, 191I. All of his children, except Carrie, are still living. Mr. Edwards' sister, Margaret, who was born in America, April 24, 1856, and who died on January 20, 1881, had married B. F. Thomas and bore him one child, Josiah Thomas, who was reared by his grandfather. Mr. Edwards' brother,

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Joseph B., was born on November 27, 1859. His life history is recounted elsewhere in this volume. Mary J. Edwards, who was born on August 23, 1865, is the wife of T. S. Williams, a farmer.

John W. Edwards and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Edwards is a member of Vaughnsville Lodge No. 711, Knights of Pythias. He also occupies a responsible position in the life of Sugar Creek township, not only as one of its leading farmers, but as an officer in charge of its leading financial institution. This business brings him into intimate association with his fellow citizens. He enjoys their confidence, to an exceptional degree, and is much sought for advice and counsel.

MATHIAS THEODORE VERHOFF.

There is no calling, however humble, in which enterprise and industry, coupled with well-directed purpose, will not produce some measure of suc- cess. In the pursuit of agriculture, the qualities mentioned are quite essen- tial. Among the well-known and highly respected farmers of Union town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, who have attained a definite degree of success in their special vocations and who, at the same time, have greatly benefited the community in which they live, is Mathias Theodore Verhoff, the gentle- man to a review of whose career, the attention of the reader is now directed.

Mathias Theodore Verhoff was born on August 14, 1887, near Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, on his father's farm. He is the son of William and Catherine (Kerner) Verhoff. William Verhoff is the son of Francis and Mary (Kramer) Verhoff. Francis Verhoff was born in Westphalia, Prus- sia and came to America in 1836, alone, settling near Glandorf; Putnam county, Ohio, on a farm. He was a blacksmith by trade, and proprietor of the first blacksmith shop in this county. He was well known for his high workmanship. Francis Verhoff was married to Mary Kramer in 1837. They had ten children, Theodore, Gertrude, Christina, Catherine, Mary Ann, Frank, Henry, William, deceased; Charles and William. The father of these children, before his death, acquired a full section of land in Putnam county. Mary Kramer, who was the wife of Francis Verhoff, was the daughter of Theodore and Gertrude (Veraking) Kramer, who were mar- ried in Germany and resided there many years, having come to this country when the elder Kramer was about fifty years of age. They settled in Put- nam county, Ohio, and were the parents of six children, William, Henry,

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Catherine, Christina and Mary, all of whom are now deceased; and, Freder- ick, who is still living. Katherine Kerner was the daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth Kerner, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Mathias Kerner came to this country and settled in Putnam county. Prior to coming to Putnam county, he spent three years in South Carolina. His wife came to Putnam county from Pennsylvania after the death of her parents.

Mathias T. Verhoff attended school at Glandorf until he was fourteen years of age. Until he was nineteen years of age, he worked on his father's farm and then removed with his brother, J. Frank, to a farm in Union town- ship, which belonged to his father, where they worked for some years.

Mathias T. Verhoff was married on June 5, 1907, to Philomena Uphaus, the daughter of Gerhard and Margaret (Wehrie) Uphaus. Gerhard Uphaus and wife were born in Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio. He was the son of John and Catherine Uphaus, who came from Germany to this country after they were married. He was a farmer and settled near Glandorf on a farm, where he continued to live until the death of his wife, and where he afterward died. He and his wife were members of St. John's Catholic church at Glandorf. Margaret Wehrie was the daughter of Clement and Anna Wehrie, who were born in Germany and who, at an early date, came to America, settling on a farm at Glandorf. They were well known among the early settlers and lived on their farm until their death. They were also members of St. John's Catholic church at Glandorf.

After the marriage of Gerhard and Margaret (Wehrie) Uphaus, they located on a farm in Jackson township, Putnam county. He died on Novem- ber 5, 1912. Their children were John, Anna, Josephine, William, Philo- mena and Mathilda.

Mathias T. and Philomena (Uphaus) Verhoff came to their present farm after their marriage, which farm consisted of seventy-seven acres and which Mr. Verhoff bought from his father. He is engaged in general farm- ing and raises a high grade of stock. He and his wife have been the parents of four children, Ambrose William, born on August 18, 1908; Gerhard Mathias, born on October 22, 1910; Victor Francis, born on February 22, 1913, and Mathias John, born on April 2, 1915.

Mathias T. Verhoff and wife are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida. Mr. Verhoff is a member of the Catholic knights of Ohio. He is an industrious young farmer, business-like in his manner, thrifty and ambitious, as well as a hard worker. He is eminently respected in the com- munity where he lives and popular among all of his neighbors.

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JOHN MERSCHMAN.

The best title one can establish to the high and generous esteem of an intelligent community is a protracted and honorable residence therein. John Merschman, one of the best-known and highly-esteemed farmers of Greens- burg township, Putnam county, Ohio, has resided in this locality all his life. His career has been most commendable in every respect, well deserv- ing of being perpetuated on the pages of a historical work of the nature of this one. Like his sterling father before him, he has been a man of well- defined purpose, and has never failed to carry to successful completion any work or enterprise to which he addressed himself. Mr. Merschman has always applied himself very closely to his work and his industry has brought its reward.

John Merschman was born in 1855 in the north edge of Pleasant town- ship, south of Ottawa. He is a son of Barney and Katherine (Hagenju- ger) Merschman. Barney was born in Osnabruck, Germany, grew up there and married Catherine Hagenjuger. He was a shepherd in the old country, and out of this made the money with which to pay his passage to America. He was about thirty years of age when he arrived in the United States, locating in Putnam county, Ohio, on what is known as the Buscher farm, between Ottawa and Glandorf. To get a start, Mr. Merschman worked as a farm laborer by the day and later purchased eighty acres of land in the north edge of Pleasant township. Here he lived the remainder of his life, following the vocation of a farmer. He was also a veterinary sur- geon, learning the latter profession in his native land, and after the people in his neighborhood learned of his skill in this direction they gave him plenty to do. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, two of whom died in early childhood. The eight living children are: Henry, of Miller City ; John, of this review; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Schulte, of' Ottoville; Mary, the wife of William Unterbrink, who lives in Michigan; Katie, the wife of Ignatius Kreinbrink; Annie, the wife of Frank Goede, of Leipsic; Barney, a farmer of Pleasant township, and Theresia, the wife of Barney Moening, residents of Michigan. The father of these children died on April 7, 1909, and the mother died in May, 1898.

John Merschman lived on the home farm until he was married, his marriage taking place on November 4, 1875, when he was united to Clara Gattman. She was born in Greensburg township, in this county, the daugh- ter of Joseph and Gertrude (Unterbrink) Herlager-Gattman. Joseph Gatt-

JOHN MERSCHMAN,

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man was born in Osnabruck, Germany, coming to this country and settling in Putnam county in an early day, where he was successfully engaged in farming. He owned his own farm and also operated a threshing machine outfit for many years, and was well known throughout the county. Joseph Gattman made two trips back to Germany to visit the scenes of his childhood days. Gertrude Unterbrink was also a native of Germany, coming to this country with her parents, who were early settlers in Greensburg township. They arrived about 1834, when the land was covered with timber, and wild animals and Indians roamed the woods. Here Gertrude Unterbrink grew to womanhood and married Mr. Herlager, of Greensburg township, and after his death she married Joseph Gattman. She was the mother of six children, of whom only two are living, Mrs. Merschman and Bernardina, the widow of George Bensman.

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John Merschman they moved to where they now live in Greensburg township. He has cleared about twenty acres more of his farm since he came, remodeled and built an addition to his house, built good barns and has a handsome country home, substantial buildings, the whole presenting a very neat and attractive appearance. He is the owner of one hundred and nineteen acres of land, on which he carries on general farming and stock raising.

John Merschman and wife are the parents of eleven children, Frank, Mary, Amelia, Veronica, Louie, Emma, Helena, John, Petronilla, and two who died in infancy. Frank married Katherine Klima and lives at Clover- dale. He and his wife have seven children, Harry, Clara, Leo, Lawrence, William, Veronica and Anna Mary. The latter is the wife of Matt Kerner, and lives one-half mile south of Mr. Merschman. They have five children, Eleanor, Harry, Loretta, Emma and Victor. Amelia is the wife of Charles Ellerbrock and lives on her father's farm. They have one daughter, Mary. Veronica is the wife of Andrew Nieman and lives two miles west of her father's place. They have one daughter, Henrietta. Louise is the wife of John Kehres and lives near her father's farm, and has three children, Al- phonse, Donelda and Alberta. Emma is the wife of Henry Gerderman and they are the parents of one son, Amos. They live on a farm three miles south of her father's place. Helena is the wife of Henry Martin, a resident of Fort Jennings, and they have one daughter, Mildred. John is unmarried and lives at home. Petronilla is also living at home.

John Merschman is not only a successful farmer, but he is a successful veterinarian, having learned the profession from his father. He has a large

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practice in the county and his skill is widely known throughout his com- munity.

The Merschman family are members of the Catholic church at Glan- dorf. John Merschman is one of the leading citizens of his township and a man whom it is a pleasure to know, enterprising, broad-minded and opti- mistic, a believer in all good things and a worker in all good enterprises.

FRANK G. BENSMAN.

Frank G. Bensman, a short sketch of whose career appears below, was born on the farm where he now lives, in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, on October 4, 1878. He is a son of Gerhard and Bernadina (Gardman) Bensman, the former of whom was a native of Osnabruck in Germany, who came to this country alone when quite a young man, locating at Glandorf, this county. He was a son of Anthony and Maria Elizabeth Bensman, both natives of Germany. The father died in his native land after the son Gerhard had come to this country, and about the year 1871 the mother joined the son here. One son, Henry, died in Germany before the family came here, while Maria remained in Germany, and Maria, Will- iam, Anthony, George, Augustus and Louise joined Gerhard in this country. This entire family has now passed away.

For about two years after reaching Putnam county, Gerhard, father of Frank G. Bensman, worked out on farms by the day. After a time he began farming for himself and, in the course of time, purchased the farm where Frank now resides, which contains eighty acres. Gerhard purchased forty acres of this from a brother and the other forty from Henry Niese. Gerhard Bensman passed away in 1903, and is remembered as a man of industrious habits, devoted to family and friends.

Frank G. Bensman's mother was Bernadina Gardman, daughter of Joseph and Gertrude ( Unterbrink) Gardman, both natives of the German Empire, but who were, however, married in this country. They settled on a farm in this county, where John Merschman now lives, and to them were born two children, Bernadina and Clara. The mother had been pre- viously married to Henry Herlage, and by her first husband became the mother of the following children: Katrina, Anna, Helena and Mary. The farm above referred to was the family home for a number of years, where both parents died.

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Frank G. Bensman is one of a family of four children, the others being Elizabeth, Amelia and Anthony. Elizabeth became the wife of Ferdi- nand Rechtien and resides at Miller City. She is the mother of four chil- dren, and with her also lives her mother. Amelia is the wife of Bernard Rechtien and lives on a farm near Miller City. Anthony has remained unmarried.

Frank Bensman attended the district schools near his home when a boy and remained under the parental roof until the time for his marriage, when he was united in wedlock to Amelia, daughter of William and Mary Unterbrink. Amelia Unterbrink was born on March 31, 1883. William Unterbrink was a son of William and Elizabeth ( Hohenbrink) Unterbrink, who came to this country from Germany after their marriage. They first settled in Putnam county, on a farm in Greensburg township, and later moved to a farm south of Ottawa, where they passed the remainder of their days. They had the following children: Williani, Carolina, Henry, Ther- esa, Frank and Joseph. William was educated in the schools of the county and for seven years worked out among the farmers of the neighborhood. After his marriage with Mary Merschman, he located on a farm south of Ottawa and, subsequently, lived at Findlay, Liberty Center, Leipsic and Miller City, this state. They are at present residing at Durand, Michigan, where they went some time ago.

Mary Merschman, Mrs. Bensman's mother, is a daughter of John B. and Christina (Hageman) Merschman, both of whom came from Osna- bruck, Germany, and settled on the farm now occupied by Barney Mersch- man, and on that farm both passed their remaining days. Their family consisted of eight children, namely: Henry, John. Elizabeth, Mary, Kate, Anna, Theresa and Barney.

After his marriage, Frank G. Bensman and his bride moved to the farm formerly owned by his father. This contains eighty acres, and Mr. Bensman gives his attention mainly to general farming as practiced throughout this section. He also devotes some time to stock raising and has also a fine lot of poultry. In recent years he has remodeled the resi- dence, and also repaired outbuildings and added new equipment, so that the farm home is attractive and comfortable. Anthony, the single brother, makes his home with the subject and farms the eighty acres adjoining, which he owns. He is thirty-nine years of age.

The entire family are members of St. John's church at Glandorf, and in politics Mr. Bensman is a Democrat, who has given some time to politics.

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He has served as road supervisor and is accounted one of the active men of the party in his neighborhood. Active both mentally and physically, and of high ambition to succeed along all legitimate lines, Mr. Bensman is of that class of men who stand for all that is highest and best in any com- munity. There are three children of the family, Rayinond, born on June 8, 1906; Mary, born on June 24, 1908, and Agnes, born on June 27, 19II.

MARTIN LUTHER PRITCHARD.

To manage a business with ability and profit, today, requires more than the mere display of the stock and the buying and selling. It is necessary that the merchant shall have combined in his make-up, something of the psychologist, that he be more or less of a strategist, and that he must be prepared to do a great deal of hard work. These qualities are found com- bined to a marked degree in Martin Luther Pritchard, who has established a thriving mercantile business in West Leipsic, Ohio.

Coming into this world on March 5, 1860, in Liberty township, Put- nam county, Mr. Pritchard is the son of Alexander Gibson and Elizabeth (Lee) Pritchard, who were the parents of four children, as follow : Arthur, who died at the age of three years; Jefferson A., who lives in Leipsic; Martin Luther, and Jane, who died at the age of four.

Alexander Pritchard was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1825, and was a physician who practiced successfully in Putnam county, Ohio, having come to Putnam county in the 'fifties, where he practiced until his death in 1866. He was a prominent physician and a worthy citizen, being a justice of the peace and postmaster in old Leipsic. In politics, he was a Repub- lican and in religion a steadfast Baptist. His ivife, a native of Virginia, died in 1900.

With small opportunity to gain an education, Mr. Pritchard began work in a factory at an early age. By dint of hard work he managed to establish himself in the mercantile business and to educate his children, and great credit is due Mr. Pritchard, as he was thrown on his own resources carly in youth, his family being in moderate circumstances. The general store which Mr. Pritchard now operates was established in September, 1883.

On December 18, 1880, Mr. Pritchard married Luella White, the daughter of Robert and Nancy (Neely) White, whose biographies are briefly given elsewhere in this volume, in the sketch devoted to J. H. White.

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To the union of Mr. Pritchard and his wife, the following children have been born: Clyde A., who married Maude Henry and is now ticket agent for the Nickel Plate Railway Company at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has three children, Neal, Owen, Paul; Clarence Martin married Anna Dwar and is ticket agent on the Nickel Plate railway at McComb, Ohio; he and his wife were the parents of two children who died in infancy; Eva L. married William C. Snyder, of Belleview, Ohio, and has two children, Martin and Donald; Harry Eugene married Emma Ladd and they have two children, Lucille Evaline and Francis; Harry is a motorman on the Ohio Electric railway and lives in Lima, Ohio: Louis Gilbert married Laura Robinson and is employed by the Temco Electric Company of Leip- sic; they have one child, Robert Louis; Ethel died when she was three years of age.

Martin Luther Pritchard is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 548, of Leipsic, also the chapter at Ottawa and Findlay Commandery. In politics he is a Republican and was on the school board for years, was township treasurer for two terms, and was postmaster of WVest Leipsic for about sixteen years, beginning his service under President Mckinley and ending in April, 1914. He has also been corporation treas- urer for many years. Subject's four boys are Masons and his wife belongs to the Eastern Star at Leipsic.

Speaking ill of no one and with a good word for all, Mr. Pritchard is a quiet, unassuming man who has gained success by close application and untiring effort, although it is foreign to his nature to indulge in vain boast- ing in regard to his accomplishments. Quick to grasp the opportunities presented to him, Mr. Pritchard is a man of strict integrity who is honored by all who know him.

MATHIAS GERDEMAN.

Among the farmers of Putnam county who have to their credit sev- eral years spent industriously and intelligently tilling the soil, is Mathias Gerdeman, of Union township. He comes from a good family, one that has always been strong for right living and industrious habits and all that contributes to the welfare of the commonwealth. Moreover, the Gerdeman family is one of the oldest in Putnam county. Such people are welcome in any community, for they are nation-builders, and as such push the frontier of civilization ever westward and onward, leaving the green, wide-reaching

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 65

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