USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 68
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the owner in this county. Ignatius Stechschulte was one of the leading. farmers of his community and his absence has been felt by many to whom he had proved himself a true friend and neighbor. He was a man who took an active interest in public affairs and for six years served Putnam county as commissioner, and had at various other times filled different offices of minor importance. Mrs. Ignatius Stechschulte, who before her marriage was Magdalena Niese, was a daughter of Barney Niese and wife, both natives of Germany, who came to this country while still quite young. The families of both of whom located in Glandorf, where the young people met and were married. After marriage they removed to a farm near Glandorf, and there lived many years until the time of her death. The father then. made his home with a son in Liberty township for the remainder of his life. They were the parents of six children, namely: Elizabeth, deceased; Theresa, Anna, deceased, Agnes, Barney and Magdalena, the latter being the mother of the immediate subject of this sketch.
Henry Stechschulte, paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany, having been born in Glandorf, province of Hanevr, on Sep- tember 25, 1825, died on his farm home in this county on December 16, 1908. He came to this country alone, when a young man, and first located in Cincinnati, where he worked at the cooper trade for three years. He then came to Glandorf, this county, where he had friends, and where he met and married Bertha Kahle, a native of this county. Immediately after mar- riage they settled on a farm where they passed the remainder of their lives, having spent many years in the proper rearing of their family and their endeavors to accumulate a modest amount of this world's goods. They lived industrious and consistent lives and were well-respected by all who knew them.
Edward Bernard Stechschulte is one of a family of nine children, the others being: Catherine, Henry, Lewis, George, Delia, Hugo, Oscar and Rudolph. When a boy he attended the common schools of his home district, and from earliest boyhood was trained by his father in the practical work about the farm home. He remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, in his twenty-fifth year. He was joined in wedlock on October 27, 1910, to Miss Elizabeth Fortman, a daughter of Barney and Rose (Hermiller ) Fortman. They took up their residence on the farm which they have since made their home. This is located in Greensburg township and consists of eighty-eight acres, all in an excellent state of cultivation. Since making his home on the farm in question, Edward Stechschulte has
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greatly remodeled the residence, has built barns and other out-buildings and generally improved the place, until it is at the present time one of the most up-to-date homes in the community. He engages in general farming and, in addition, gives considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs for the market. He is of large and strong physique, an excellent specimen of manhood, and possessed of high ambition and tireless energy. These excellent characteristics are making for him an enviable reputation among those who know him.
Edward Stechschulte's wife (Elizabeth Fortman) was a daughter of Barney and Rose (Hermiller ) Fortman, the former being the son of Anthony Fortman and wife, and was born on his father's farm near Ottawa, this county, where he remained on the family homestead until the time of his marriage. He was one of a family of seven children, the oldest two being sons named Anthony, both of whom died in early childhood, the remaining members of the family being: Gertrude, Theodore, Bernadina, Anna and Barney. Rose Hermiller, mother of Edward's wife, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was brought to Putnam county by her parents when a little child of three years. Her parents were Barney and Bernadina Her- miller, both natives of Germany. After coming to this county, they settled on a farm in Greensburg township, where they lived for a number of years and where his death occurred. She then took up her residence in Glandorf, where she passed her remaining days. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, Louisa, Sophia, Rose, Mary, William, Henry, Frank and Minnie.
After their marriage, Barney Fortman and wife moved to the farm on which they still live in Putnam county. Their family consists of the follow- ing children : Barney, Dina, Mary, Ignatius, Joseph, Elizabeth, subject's wife; William and Frank. Mr. Fortman's present farm consists of eighty acres, but his holdings, formerly, were much larger, as he divided two hun- dred and forty acres among his sons at the time of their marriage. Mr. Fortman has practically retired from the more active duties of life, having spent many years in hard labor and having won a competency which enables him to pass his remaining years in quiet retirement if he so chooses.
Our subject votes the Democratic ticket and both he and his wife are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. They now attend St. Michael's at Miller City, but formerly were of St. John's at Glandorf. Edward Stechschulte and wife are both held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She is a charming young matron, full of appreciation and sympathy for all her husband's undertakings. There are no children.
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FRANK RIEMAN, JR.
The biographer here presents a short sketch of the career of one of the younger agriculturists of Greensburg township, Putnam county, and a mem- ber of one of the old families of this section. The Rieman family first came here in pioneer times and the name has ever stood for all that is best.
Frank Rieman, Jr., the immediate subject of our sketch, is a son of Frank, Sr., and Mary (Karhoff ) Rieman, and first saw the light of day on the family homestead in Greensburg township, on November 14, 1871. Frank's father is also a native of this county, having been born in Ottawa township, of parents who were natives of the German Empire, and the same is true of his mother, who was Mary, daughter of Henry and Adelaide Kerhoff.
When a boy, Frank Rieman attended the common schools of Greens- burg township and assisted the father in the work about the farm, remain- ing under the parental roof for a year and a half after his marriage. This. ceremony was solemnized on October 17, 1900, in St. John's church, Glan- dorf, his bride being Miss Helena Edelbrock, a daughter of William and Mary (Herlage) Edelbrock. William Edelbrock was born in Germany and came to this country with his parents where they settled on a farm in Greens- burg township, the parents living here until death. William Edelbrock at- tended school in this county and worked at farming during his early youth. He was one of the following children of his parents: William, Andrew, Henry, Charles, Christina, William (father of Frank's wife) was married in St. John's church at Glandorf. She was a native of this county, having been born in Glandorf, where she grew to maturity and was married, after which they located on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres where they passed the remainder of their lives. Their children were: Mary, Minnie, Helena, wife of our subject; Amelia, deceased; Frank and Edward. Minnie became the wife of Henry Wurst, who lived near Ottawa, and is now widowed. She had five children, one of whom has passed away. She be- longs to Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic church at Ottawa. Frank married Ida Doepker, who has died and since which time he has resided in Glandorf. This family are members of St. John's church at Glandorf.
When Frank Rieman and wife decided to go to themselves, they took up their residence on a farm adjoining the homestead, which farm contained one hundred and three acres and was owned by his father. This land he has. since purchased and in addition has bought twenty-six acres adjoining, from Ignatius Kahle. Mr. Rieman carries on general farming and also raises con-
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siderable cattle, however, having no particular breed. He takes pride in having good horses and many good animals have come from his stables. Since taking up his home on this farm, he has remodeled the buildings and. all are in good shape and well adapted for the uses to which he puts them.
Frank and Ida (Doepker) Rieman are the parents of four children: Alfred, born on April 7, 1902; Linus, born on September 9, 1906; Edward, died on January 26, 1915, and Cornelia, born on November 19, 1914. Mr. Rieman's religious membership is with St. John's Catholic church at Glan- dorf, and in politics he espouses the cause of the Democratic party. He is a inan of marked domestic traits, devoted to his family and their best interests. She is an amiable woman, a devoted mother and a loyal and helpful helpmate.
FRANK W. DOEPKER.
One of the well-known and interesting citizens of Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, is the man whose name forms the caption of this. article. Mr. Doepker is a native of Germany, born in the Province of Han- over on February 29, 1841, a son of Henry and Maria Doepker. The father was a poultry dealer and farmer and in comfortable circumstances. There. were nine children in the family, our immediate subject being the youngest .. The others were: Theresa, Agnes, Louise, Joseph, Henry, Ignatius, William and Philip. Henry emigrated to America, locating in Ohio, and at the be- ginning of the Civil War, enlisted with an Ohio regiment and went to the front. He became sick while in service and died somewhere in the South. Joseph is still living at Akron, this state, and Louise came to this county and! is now the wife of Henry Rayman, living in Ottoville.
Frank W. Doepker was twenty-eight years of age before he embarked for America. He landed in New York, where he remained for a short time, working in a factory. He then came to Toledo, this state, and later to Put- nam county, where he worked for his brother, Joseph, in a saw-mill. He, however, remained there only six months and then became a laborer for bricklayers in this county. He, eventually, learned that trade and worked at it for many years. He was married in Germany previous to emigrating to this country. This was in 1867, and about two months after marriage, the young couple started out for the "land of the free." Twenty-five years ago he purchased the farm where he still resides and there the nine children were raised. Frank married Katrina Ginther and resides in Chicago; Minnie
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married Henry Kohls and had three children, two of whom died. Mrs. Kohls died some time ago, when Mr. Kohls chose as his second wife his first wife's sister, Mary; they now reside in Ottawa, and have one child. Anna is unmarried and keeps the home for the father; Josephine became the wife of John Yauch, and they reside in Middletown, this state; Elizabeth married Joseph Tomlinson and lives in Dayton; Gustav died when a baby of but one year; Lena married Alva Cox and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and William chose Lavina Seimetz as his life companion and they reside on a farm in Greensburg township, this county. Frank's wife passed away on July 24, 1893.
Two years ago, in 1913, Mr. Doepker, in company with his friend, Harry Landwehr, of Glandorf, this county, made a journey back to the Fatherland, remaining there for two months. They visited scenes of Frank's childhood days and traveled extensively throughout the Empire, sightseeing and enjoying many sights of which he had merely heard when a young man and living there.
Frank W. Doepker's farm contains seventy-eight acres and he carries on general farming. He has erected all the buildings on the place and made all the improvements. He is a Democrat and at one time served as assessor of the township. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, being of the parish at Miller City. Mr. Doepker is a genial and friendly man who has a host of friends and is much liked and admired by all who know him, for his sterling qualities of heart and mind.
JOSEPH HENRY KAHLE.
By the marriage, in the year 1900, of Joseph Henry Kahle to Wilhel- mina Smith, there was effected a happy union of two of the oldest families in Putnam county, and it is but fitting that there should be presented in this valuable volume of biographical narrative relating to the prominent families of this county a brief sketch of the head of the new household that was then created.
Joseph Henry Kahle was born on a farm in Greensburg township, Put- nam county, Ohio, January 18, 1874, the son of Frank Kahle, a member of one of the oldest and best-known families in Putnam county, the genealogy of which will be found set out in a biographical sketch of Frank Kahle, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume.
MR. AND MRS. JOSEPII II. KAIILE.
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RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH H. KAHLE.
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Joseph Henry Kahle was educated in the schools of his native town- ship and grew to manhood on the paternal farm, being carefully instructed in all the details of farming life, and there he remained until his marriage, in the year 1900, after which he moved on a farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased in section 17 of Union township, where he has since made his home. This original eighty acres was a part of the old Kahle farm, and Mr. Kahle later added to the same a tract of one hundred and eighty- two acres adjoining, eighty acres of which lies in Greensburg township. This farm is noted far and near for the excellent character of its build- ings, there being eight in all upon it, all of the most substantial structure, from the splendid dwelling house to the humblest outbuilding, and all of which are designed for the greatest convenience and comfort. Mr. Kahle believes in taking proper care of his domestic animals, and the buildings erected for them have left nothing to be desired for the most humane treat- ment of his stock.
In addition to his considerable operations in the line of general farm- ing and stock raising, Mr. Kahle has become a potent figure in the business life of his community, and is reckoned as among the leading men in that sec- tion of the county in all things pertaining to the highest development of the community interest. He is the president of the Peoples Bank at Kalida, and is well known and popular among the business men in all parts of the county. There are few public enterprises, affecting his immediate neigh- borhood, in which Mr. Kahle is not in some manner interested, and his in- fluence in the affairs of that section of the county is growing constantly.
Joseph Henry Kahle was united in marriage, on November 7, 1900, to Wilhelmina Smith, daughter of the late L. Jacob Smith, who, for many years, was one of the best loved and most influential men in that part of the county. For further details of the genealogy of Mrs. Kahle the reader is referred to the biographical sketch of her brother, Frank Smith, presented elsewhere in this volume.
To Joseph Henry and Wilhelmina (Smith) Kahle there have been born eight children, as follow: Infant, deceased, born on August 10, 1901 ; Frank Jacob, born on August 14, 1902; Joseph Cyrrels, born on July 5, 1904; Alfred Harry, born on June 5, 1906; Hubert Joseph, born on De- cember 30, 1909; Florentine Mary, born on July 27, 1911; Cletus Arnold, born on March 31, 1913, and August Robert Victor, born on April 24, 1915. This promising quiverful of youngsters keep things lively about the Kahle home and are the great delight of their devoted parents' lives.
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Mr. and Mrs. Kahle are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida, and their children are being reared in the firm faith of the church, to which institution they are devoted and are earnest and active supporters of its various beneficences, their service to the parish being as unselfish as it is generous. In all the other good works of the community they are also deeply interested, and no couple in that part of the county is more popular or more highly esteemed than are Mr. and Mrs. Kahle.
Mr. Kahle is a man of the most engaging personality, wholesome and genial in his demeanor and popular with all. He is a good farmer and an excellent business man, and is doing well his part in the community.
JOSEPH KERNER.
The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has accomplished. An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have been successful in their life work and who, at the same time, have left the impress of their strong personality upon the community, men who have won honor and recognition for themselves and who have conferred honor upon the locality in which they reside, would be incomplete with a failure to make specific mention of Joseph Kerner, a well-known retired farmer of Greensburg township. His life has been a busy one, but he has never allowed anything to interfere with his Christian obligations or the faithful performance of his church duties. Mr. Kerner has lived to rear a large family which is highly esteemed and respected throughout all Putnam county.
Joseph Kerner was born on September 24, 1848, in Greensburg town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Mathias and Elizabeth Kerner. Mathias Kerner was born in Germany, and his wife was born in Pennsyl- vania. The former came to America and settled in Putnam county early in life, but prior to arriving in Putnam county he spent three years in South Carolina. His wife came to Putnam county from Pennsylvania after the death of her parents. She met and married Mathias Kerner and they moved to the farm where Joseph Kerner now lives. They acquired a substantial competency and lived upon this farm during practically their entire life.
Joseph Kerner, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools in Putnam county. Mr. Kerner was married on November 6, 1872, to Mary Schaeffer. She was born on Novem-
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ber 18, 1853, and is the daughter of Henry and Agnes ( Hoffman) Schaeffer. Both her parents were born in Germany, and were there married. Three days after their marriage, Henry and Agnes Schaeffer came to America, and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where they remained for some time. Subsequently, they removed to West Virginia, and, eventually, came to Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, where Mr. Schaeffer followed the black- smith trade, which he had learned in his native country. They lived in Putnam county for many years and reared a family of four children, John was born in 1856, Clara was born in 1859, Mary became the wife of Mr. Kerner, and Clara, deceased, married Barney Kolaff. John was thrice mar- ried, the first time to Theresa Schrader, the second to Katrina Recker, and the third time to Caroline Lemkuhle. After their marriage, Joseph Kerner and wife moved to Mr. Kerner's farm in section 22, Greensburg township, and here they have spent practically their entire life.
Joseph Kerner and wife are the parents of the following children: Mathias, born on April 6, 1874; Elizabeth, born on December 6, 1875; Carolina, born on November 9, 1877, and died on October 21, 1881 ; Amalia was born on November 22, 1879; Katrina was born on January 26, 1882; Mary T. was born on December 8, 1884; Mary Ann was born on April 26, 1887; John Edward was born on November 3, 1889; Rosa was born on October 20, 1892. Elizabeth Kerner married Barney Merschman, and they have the following children: Philomena, Edward, Clara, Frank, Bernard and two who died in infancy. Their home is in Ottawa. Amalia married John Kolhoff, and they live near Alma, Michigan. They have four chil- dren, Wilfred, Alvine, Cletus and Collette. Katrina married Barney Gerd- ing and they have six children, Clarence, Louis, Adelia, Edwin, Marcella and Ambrose. Mary T. married John Siebeneck and they have two children living, Mary and Edward. Four children are deceased. Mary Ann mar- ried Chris Marmon and they have four children, Hubbard, Loretta, Leo and Sylvester. Edward married Anna Rieman and they have one child, Mar- cella. Mathias married Mary Merschman and they live on the farm adjoin- ing that of Mr. Kerner. They have five children, Eleanore, Harry, Loretta, Emma and Victor. Rosa is unmarried and lives at home.
Joseph Kerner is an active man for his advanced years and can do a day's work as well as the average man of younger years. He has a splendid farm of eighty acres which is devoted to general farming. He and his wife are proud of their many grandchildren and are a happy couple. Mrs. Kerner is a very active woman, of motherly disposition. The Kerner family
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has been very highly esteemed in Putnam county for several generations. All the members of this family are affiliated with the Catholic church, and politically, most of the Kerners are Democrats.
JOHN B. EDELBROCK.
John B. Edelbrock, to a short sketch of whose career the attention of the reader is directed, was born on the farm where he now lives on May II, 1871, being a son of Henry and Theresa Edelbrock.
Mr. Edelbrock is a descendant of some of the oldest pioneers of this section, being a grandson of Peter and Anna M. Edelbrock, who were natives of Prussia, Germany, and were married in that country about 1823 and remained in Germany until about 1834, when they emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore. They remained here for a short time, then came and joined Father Horstman's colony of German settlers in Glandorf, Putnam county, and after a short time settled on a farm near Glandorf, where they lived until death. He died in 1844, and his wife in 1864. They located on a farm in Greensburg township, containing eighty acres. This was government land which they secured and virgin soil. They lived the life of the pioneers to the day when they could see their farm developed into a clean and productive piece of land. Their children were, Frank, Will- iam, Andrew, Henry, father of our immediate subject; Clara and Christina, Charles, Edward and Theodore, all of whom are now deceased. Frank and William served in the same Ohio regiment during the Civil War, and Frank was killed during a battle. They served in the Thirty-seventh Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Henry Edelbrock received his education in the district schools near his home, and also at Glandorf. During his young manhood he worked on his father's farm and, in 1857, was united in marriage to Theresa Siebeneck and, after their marriage, they went to live on the farm which is now occu- pied by the subject. Theresa was the daughter of Henry and Mary Sie- beneck, also of the Province of Hanover, Germany, and members of the same colony above referred to. They took up a tract of government land, containing forty acres, and there they lived until the end of their lives. There were two daughters in the family, the other being Mary, who became the wife of Barney Ellerbrock and lives in Glandorf. She is widowed, her husband having been dead for some time. Both Henry and Theresa Edel-
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brock have passed from this life, but they leave behind them the memory of thrifty, honest lives, and both were of so genuinely friendly natures that they were much liked and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
John B. Edelbrock is one of a family of eight children, namely : Frank, William, Mary, Kate, John, Joseph, Benjamin and Minnie. Frank is in Central America. William married Theresa Huester and lives in Greens- burg township. He is the father of three children, Hulda, Louis and Elnora. Mary became the wife of Henry Fipp, of Glandorf, and is the mother of two children, Charles and August. Kate is Mrs. Frank Erhart, of Greens- burg township, and is the mother of six children, Laura, Flora, Benjamin, Harry, Edna and Minnie; both boys, however, being deceased. Benjamin married Elnora Kacht and lives in Greensburg township.' He has four chil- dren, Velma, Clarence, Raymond and Mabel. John, Joseph and Minnie remain unmarried. The father of this family died in 1907 and the mother passed away in 1912.
John B. Edelbrock, with his sister, Minnie, lives on the old homestead. This farm contains one hundred and twenty acres, all under cultivation, with good buildings. They are accounted among the good and substantial people of the community and are much liked. Both are members of St. John's, Glandorf, the entire family being communicants of the Roman Cath- olic church. The Edelbrock family from the very earliest arrival in this country have been, and are today, among that substantial class of Germans who have done much for Putnam county and its material prosperity.
LEWIS SIMON.
One of the influential citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, is Lewis Simon, who, for many years, has been a well-known farmer in Greensburg township. He is a man of excellent endowments and upright character and has been a valued factor in local affairs. Mr. Simon has long commanded the unequi- vocal confidence and esteem of the people of Putnam county. He has been loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to promote the interests of his county, morally and otherwise. Although Mr. Simon is enfeebled and is no longer able to work, as he formerly did, he is possessed of a remarkable memory and is, personally, familiar with the most interesting details of the entire growth of this section of Putnam county.
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