History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 71

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

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with the father, assisting him in the work of the home place; Louis Alfred, the eldest of the family, was united in marriage, on March 20, 1912, to Miss Bessie Wirth, a daughter of George and Mary Ann Wirth, both natives of this county. George Wirth is a son of Samuel and Mary Magdalena Wirth, both of whom were natives of Germany, and upon emigrating to this coun- try, came directly to this county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. George Wirth received his education in the public schools of this county and worked with his father on the home farm. On December 13, 1885, he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Guyton, and to their union were born six children, as follows: Matilda, Mary, deceased; Frank, Charles, Bessie, wife of Louis Alfred Neill, and Alta. After marriage, George Wirth and wife moved to the farm of one hundred and sixty acres where they lived for many years and where his widow still resides. He is now deceased. To Louis Alfred Neill and wife have been born two children, Thelma, born on December 30, 19II, and Catherine Jane, born on January 27, 1913. The Neill family are well known through this section and both father and sons are regarded as men of industry and integrity and among the most substantial citizens of the community.

FRANK ERHART.

One of the popular and well-known citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, is Frank Erhart, whose reputation for unfailing cheerfulness and optimism, sincere friendliness and whole-souled generosity is founded on fact and most justly deserved. Mr. Erhart won many friends when twice candidate for sheriff on the Democratic ticket, but unfortunately failed of election. He has at different times served as county assessor, justice of the peace and township ditch commissioner, and for twelve years was a member of the school board. He is engaged in farming in Greensburg township, where the family is well known.

Frank Erhart was born in Ottawa township, this county, on March 18, 1866, being a child of Henry and Anna Bernadina (Barlager) Erhart, both natives of this county, born of German parentage. Henry Erhart was a son of Barney and Elizabeth Erhart, the other children of the family being Andrew, Mary, Elizabeth, Rosa, Anna and John. The parents left their native land of Germany shortly after marriage, coming direct to this. county, where they had friends. They settled on a farm three miles west

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of Ottawa, this county, where they lived for the balance of their lives and where their children were born and reared. Anna Bernadina Barlager, mother of Frank Erhart, was the child of Henry and Gertrude Barlager, both born in the German Empire. They emigrated to America early in their married life and located in this county on a farm some two miles west of Glandorf, where all their children were born and reared, and where they passed the remainder of their days. They had five children, namely : Kath- erine, Henry, Elizabeth, Bernadina and Joseph. They were devout members of the Catholic church and in that faith their family was reared.

Henry Erhart, father of Frank, passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, attending the district schools whenever possible. He early showed an aptitude for agricultural work and immediately after his marriage on July 5, 1865, he took his bride to the eighty-acre farm, where he toiled and passed the remainder of his life. His death occurred in March, 1914. His widow still resides on the farm, which she operates. In spite of her advanced years, she is in possession of a mental alertness and physical strength that would do credit to a woman scarce half her age. She is the mother of seven children, Frank, Caroline, William, Mollie, Elizabeth, Mary and Frances. The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church.

When a youth, Frank Erhart secured such education as the district schools of his home locality afforded and assisted his father in the work of the farm home. He was united in marriage on September 20, 1888, to Catherine Edelbrock, daughter of Henry and Theresa Edelbrock, and soon after their marriage the young couple removed for residence to Jackson township, this county. For twenty-six years they remained on the farm, which had been their original home and, in March of 1914, they removed to their present home in Greensburg township. This farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres, and Mr. Erhart devotes his time to general farming and the raising of live stock.

Henry Edelbrock, father of Mrs. Erhart, was a native of Germany, who came to this country when a young man and, for many years, was a well-known farmer of this county. His death occurred in 1906. His wife was Theresa Siebeneck, and she survived her husband several years, her death occurring in 1913. She was a native of this county, born of German parentage, and was the mother of eight children, Frank, William, Mary, Catherine, John, Joseph, Benjamin and Minnie, the entire family being communicants of the Roman Catholic church.

To Frank Erhart and wife were born six children, as follow: Laura,

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born on July 12, 1889, who is the wife of August Myers of Glandorf, this county, and is the mother of three children; Flora, born on April 26, 1891, is a graduate of Ottawa business college; Edna, born on August 16, 1899, attends the Glandorf high school; Benjamin, born on February 9, 1901, is deceased, as is also Harry, born on November 15, 1903, and Minnie, born on March 8, 1904, is still in the grades. The various members of the family are prominent in the life of their community, making themselves agreeable to both friend and stranger alike. All are communicants of the Roman Catholic church.

JOHN B. STEPHENS.

One of the conspicuous names on the list of Putnam county agricul- turists is that of John B. Stephens, who operates a splendid farm in Sugar Creek township, and who is a gentleman of high standing, to whom has not been denied a full measure of success. Long recognized as a factor of im- portance in connection with the farming and stock-raising industries here, he is prominently identified with the material growth and prosperity of this part of the state, his life having been closely interwoven with the history of the county where he has been content to live and follow his vocation.

John B. Stephens was born in Union township on January 26, 1868, and is a son of Marion and Margaret (Nonemaker) Stephens. Marion Stephens is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Union county on July 11, 1843, and there spent his boyhood days and received his early education. His parents dying when he was but a child, he was reared by relatives, and during his young manhood was employed at farm labor. At the outbreak of the Civil War Marion Stephens enlisted as a private in the Fifty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which command was attached to the Army of the Tennessee. Mr. Stephens was a participant in many of the most hotly-contested battles of that great struggle, including many campaigns and the historic march of Sherman to the sea. After the war Mr. Stephens returned to Union county, where, shortly afterward, he married Margaret Nonemaker, who was born in . Fairfield county about 1845, a daughter of John Nonemaker and wife, both of whom were natives of Ger- many and who settled in Fairfield county, Ohio. Later they moved to Union county, settling near Plain City, and there remained the rest of their lives. Their surviving children were seven in number, namely: Jacob, who was killed in the service during the Civil War; Samuel, Catherine, Lucinda,

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Martha, Margaret and Nancy. Margaret, who married Marion Stephens, died in July, 1875, when her son, the subject of this sketch, was seven years. old. To Marion and Margaret (Nonemaker) Stephens there were born three children, Martha, John B. and Winnifred, the deceased widow of Edward Lippencott.

Some time after the death of his first wife Marion Stephens was mar- ried to Elizabeth Best, of Putnam county, the daughter of George and Anna Best. To this union were born six children, three of whom survived them, Joseph, George and Grover. After his first marriage Marion Stephens re- mained in Union county for some time and then moved to Putnam county, where he remained but two years. During this time John B. Stephens was born. The family then moved to Madison county, where the wife and mother died. The father returned to Putnam county in 1879, locating on a farm which he had purchased in Sugar Creek township, in partnership with Jacob Miller, the tract comprising one hundred and sixty acres, located one mile northeast of Vaughnsville. Here he remained until 1905, when he moved to the state of Michigan, but in 1912 returned to Putnam county. He now lives in Kalida.

John B. Stephens was about eleven years old when his father returned to Sugar Creek township, where he remained until attaining maturity. His education was received in the common schools of Vaughnsville, and his early years were spent in work on the old home farm. After his marriage in 1893. he lived for a while at his wife's home, and in the following year moved to. the Joseph Garner farm, on which he resided for two years. He then returned to his mother-in-law's home place of eighty acres, and there he has since continued to reside, Mr. Stephens being engaged in the operation and man- agement of the farm. He is a progressive and up-to-date farmer, giving attention to the most advanced ideas relative to agriculture, and has achieved a noteworthy success in this enterprise.

John B. Stephens was united in marriage on October 12, 1893, with Olive Vandermark, who was born in Putnam county, March II, 1872, the datighter of William and Mary Jane ( Mayberry) Vandemark. William Vandemark was born in Putnam county on June 22, 1830, and met his death by the hands of a bank robber at Columbus Grove, his death occurring on August 9, 1891. Mary Jane (Mayberry) Vandemark was born in Ross county on December 16, 1833, being the eldest daughter of James and May Mayberry. To William and Mary Vandemark were born the following children : Malinda on April 4, 1856, died on August 4, 1856; James, February 27, 1858, died on January 21, 1894; John M., April 17, 1861, died on May 26,

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1864; Serilda, January 5, 1864, died on June 14, 1864; Charles E., September 13, 1866; Margaret L., July 7, 1869, died in infancy ; Luella died in infancy on April 2, 1870; Olive, Mrs. Stephens, March II, 1872; Lawrence, May I, 1875. Mary Jane Mayberry had been married prior to her union with Mr. Vandemark, the first husband, Aaron Jones, was born on December 20, 1825, their marriage occurring on August 22, 1851. William Vandemark was one of nine children, Agnes, Jeremiah, Elizabeth, Esther, Nancy Ann, Elvira, William and a twin sister, Mary Jane, and Daniel, all of whom are deceased. To John B. Stephens and wife have been born four children, William, Velma, Lawrence and Ethel.

Mr. Stephens is a Democrat, and has taken a commendable interest in local and public affairs, having served efficiently as a member of the town- ship school board. He is affiliated with the Christian church, of which he is a trustee, and of which his wife is also a member. The qualities which have made Mr. Stephens one of the prominent and successful men of Sugar Creek township have also brought him the esteem of his fellow-citizens, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.

FRANCIS M. RIMER.

Not long ago there was a period from the middle of November to the first of March when very little work was done on the farm. The business man cannot afford a four or five months' vacation nor can the farmer afford it. The business man at the head of any enterprise hardly dares to quit work for two weeks. Not that the farmer does not work hard enough, but his work is poorly planned if he has nothing that he can do during a third of each year. It were far better for the farmer to quit work at noon on Sat- urday every week in the year than to work long hours during the spring and summer season and cease work altogether during the winter months. The farmer who loves his work and is bent'on attacking its problems systematically will not care to pass long periods in absolute idleness. He will find something possible to do no matter how bad the weather may be, and he will work where he may be comfortable. He will have carefully planned his work for the next season, will have attended carefully to the feeding of his stock, the long evenings he will have spent reading the literature of the farm and in studying farm problems. This is the typical life of the present-day progressive farmer, and one of the men who falls in this class is Francis M. Rimer, of Sugar Creek township. Mr. Rimer is a man of more than average intelligence.

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He is a man who has kept abreast of the times with the application of the latest methods, and has kept informed with regard to the latest developments in agriculture, which is evidenced by the fact that he employs all of the latest devices in his farm work.

Francis M. Rimer was born on July 19, 1857, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Rimer. Jacob Rimer was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on January 29, 1815. He was the son of Daniel and Catherine ( Vandemark) Rimer. Daniel Rimer was a native of Pennsylvania and was born near Rimersburg. He was of German parentage and came to Fairfield county, Ohio, from Penn- sylvania, about 1812. Here he remained until 1832, when his son Jacob, the father of Francis M., was seventeen years of age. In this year he located in Union township, Putnam county, where he entered land from the govern- ment south of Kalida. Here he spent the remainder of his active life and spent his declining years with his son, Jacob, in Sugar Creek township, where he died on July 5, 1857. His wife surviving him about seventeen years, died in 1874.

Jacob Rimer was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he spent his childhood and received his early education. When sixteen years of age, in 183I, he came to Putnam county, Ohio, one year ahead of his parents. After they settled in Union township he remained with them until his marriage on March 1, 1838, at which time he was twenty-three years of age, and when he settled on a farm of eighty acres in section 8 of Sugar Creek township. This land was covered with virgin timber and partly with water. Jacob Rimer built a one-roomed log cabin and a barn and proceeded to clear his land, in which latter undertaking he nearly succeeded during his lifetime. A few years later he built a frame house adjoining the log cabin. This house was of five rooms and quite pretentious for those times. In later years he built a more commodious residence, which is still in use today. Jacob Rimer's wife, Elizabeth Rhodes, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on July 21, 1816. She was the daughter of Peter and Catherine (Hoffman) Rhodes, and came to Putnam county with her parents when sixteen years of age, in 1831, who settled on the west bank of Hog creek, just below Rimer. Elizabeth here grew to womanhood and was married to Jacob Rimer on March 1, 1838, at the age of twenty-two. Jacob Rimer's parents had five children, three sons and two daughters, Eliza, Jacob, Jeremiah, Daniel and Parmelia, all of whom are deceased. Peter and Catherine Rhodes had seven children, two daughters and five sons. Jacob and Elizabeth Rimer had nine children, seven sons and two daughters, Joseph, born on December 18, 1838, and died on December 21

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of the same year ; George W., February 5, 1840, and was killed in the Civil War on December II, 1863; Daniel P., January 8, 1842; Elizabeth, October 23, 1843 ; James W., March 26, 1846, and died on December 25, 1907; Mary L., May 30, 1848; Leazure, August 21, 1851; Lewis H., September 7, 1853; Francis M., July 19, 1857. Daniel P. was also a soldier in the Civil War.

Jacob Rimer spent a most active and useful life and died on the old homestead, which was largely the work of his hands, in December, 1901. He was a Democrat and an active member of the Baptist church. He was township trustee for several terms, was well known and highly respected and was a man of high ideals and sterling integrity. His wife preceded him to the grave, having departed this life on December 22, 1893. Francis M. Rimer was born on the old homestead of his father and here spent his childhood. He attended the local district school, known as Woods College. Here he grew to manhood and helped his father on the old home farm until he was twenty- eight years of age, when he married.

Francis Rimer was married on December 10, 1885, to Margaret Eliza- beth Oard, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, on Jan- uary 28, 1866. She was the daughter of Noah and Margaret (Oglevie) Oard. Both of them died when Mrs. Rimer was only fourteen years of age. Noah Oard was born in Allen county in 1824 and was the son of Peter and Anna Oard, the former a native of Pennsylvania. Margaret Oglevie was the daughter of parents who came from Virginia. Her father was a native of Scotland and came to Virginia when nine years of age, settling in Putnam county in pioneer times two miles north of Vaughnsville. To Noah and Margaret Oard, fifteen children were born, fourteen of whom grew to matur- ity. They were: James Henry, who died in 1912; Mary Jane, deceased; Thomas Clinton; David R. and Peter L., twins; Anna C., deceased; John A .; Amanda O .; Noah O .; Margaret E., the wife of Mr. Rimer; Cynthia A .; Viola, who died at the age of five years; Eva; Lottie and an infant who died at birth.

After his marriage Francis Rimer settled on a part of his father's farm of sixty-one acres, where he built a twelve-room residence and a large barn and other buildings. To his original farm Mr. Rimer has added twelve acres, making seventy-three acres in all. He has always done general farming.

Francis M. and Margaret E. (Oard) Rimer have had seven children: Lenore, born on January 20, 1889; Ralph, February 25, 1891 ; Helen, May 5, 1894; Russell, September 26, 1897; Louis Richard, July 24, 1899; Mar- garet, September 24, 1905, and Elizabeth, October 31, 1907. Lenore, who was graduated from the Vaughnsville high school, attended the Lebanon

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Normal School, and is now teaching in Oregon. Ralph, who is a graduate of the Vaughnsville high school and the Lima Business College, is also teaching in Oregon. Helen, also a graduate of the Vaughnsville high school, took the normal course at Ohio Northern University and a special normal course at Ottawa. Russell is also a graduate of the Vaughnsville high school. Louis Richard is now a student in the Vaughnsville high school.

Francis Rimer attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Rimer is a member. Mr. Rimer is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 711, at Vaughnsville. He is a Democrat, having served as school director, township supervisor and township trustee. Francis M. Rimer is well known in Putnam county and highly respected as an up-to-date, progressive and intelligent farmer.

HERMAN HOLTKAMP.

There are few public officials, of the federal class, in Putnam county who are better known or more deservedly popular in the community in which they reside than the genial postmaster at Kalida, to a brief sketch of whose interesting career the biographer, with pleasure, calls the attention of the reader at this point. Though of foreign birth and a resident of this county a matter of less than three decades, Postmaster Holtkamp has so thoroughly absorbed the spirit of American institutions and has so com- pletely familiarized himself with American manners and customs that there is no more thorough American than he, nor none more sincerely devoted to the welfare of his adopted country. One of the best known merchants in the county, he for years having been engaged in the hardware business at Kalida, Mr. Holtkamp also has the interests of the county at large very deeply at heart, and none is more prompt in furthering any movement hav- ing the commonwealth's best development in view than is he. Not only that, but his fine musical education and taste make him popular in those circles which contribute in largest measure to the cultural development of the communal life, and he, therefore, may properly be looked upon as one of the most valuable citizens of this county. No review of the history of this section would be complete without proper mention of his services and activities since coming to this county, and it is with pleasure that the biog- rapher presents here a brief and modest sketch of the career of this excel- lent citizen.

Herman Holtkamp was born in the Province of Westphalia, Germany.

*٢٠

HERMAN HOLTKAMP.

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December 4, 1856, the only son of Everhard and Gertrude (Asholt) Holt- kamp, farming people, whose lives were spent on their farm near the town of Vorhelm, in Westphalia, and to whom also were born two daughters, Christine and Anna, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom still lives in Germany, the parents both being dead.

Herman Holtkamp received his early education under the admirable scholastic system of his native province and early in life was apprenticed to a wood carver, asquiring a most skillful proficiency in this difficult and im- portant trade. For a time after completing his apprenticeship he followed this trade in Germany, and then decided to seek an extension of his fortunes on this side of the Atlantic. With that end in view, he came to America in 1887, landing at New York, from whence he came direct to Putnam county, locating in the town of Kalida, where he has ever since made his home. Upon arriving at Kalida he opened a wagon and wood-working shop, which he operated for twenty-two years, becoming in that time one of the best known and most successful artisans of that class in the county. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with James Tennison, the two buying the hardware store of Fanger & Recker, in Kalida. Later, Mr. Tennison sold his interest in this store to John W. Fortman, since which time the house has been doing business under the firm style of Holtkamp & Fortman, and has been quite successful, doing a general and quite extensive business in hardware, farming implements, etc., also taking contracts for tin work, roofing and the like. In addition to his extensive business interests, Mr. Holtkamp is deeply concerned in matters of public improvement, and is regarded as one of the leaders in all movements having to do with the best development of the interests of his home community. For three years he served, most acceptably, as township treasurer of Union township, and for a like period of service was clerk of the school board, in which latter capacity his deep interest in educational and cultural matters proved of large value to the community.

Herman Holtkamp was united in marriage in 1890 to Mary Siefker, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Tenwalde) Siefker, a prominent fam- ily in Union township. Mrs. Holtkamp is one of a family of seven chil- dren, the others being Henry, John, Elizabeth, Anna, Joseph and Catherine, of whom Henry, Elizabeth and Anna are now deceased.

To the union of Herman and Mary (Siefker) Holtkamp nine children have been born, as follow: Henry (deceased), born on August 28, 1891 ; Edward, born on December 7, 1892; Henry, born on February 7, 1894;

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Pauline, born on December 18, 1895; Emma (deceased), born on October 4, 1897; Clara, born on August 18, 1900; Louise (deceased), born on May 15, 1902; Irene, born on September 23, 1904, and Alice, born on March 29, 1906.

Mr. and Mrs. Holtkamp are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida and are earnestly devoted to the sacred interests of that parish, in the various beneficences of which they are active participants. For twen- ty-seven years Mr. Holtkamp has served as organist and choir director in St. Michael's church, his service in this connection ever having proved ac- ceptable to the parish, in which there is no more popular member than he.

In public affairs Mr. Holtkamp always has taken a deep interest and has given to the politics of the county a degree of intelligent attention which has lent much weight to his counsels in the deliberations of the party man- agers. He was appointed postmaster at Kalida in June, 1914, by the Pres- ident, entering upon the duties of this important office in the next month, and is giving the public most excellent service through that office. He has a splendid reputation throughout that part of the county and is very prop- erly regarded as one of the leading men of affairs.

JAMES H. TEEGARDIN.

The farmer's greatest economic interest is in increased profit. Involved in this interest, which is potent to the farmer's prosperity, is the problem of distribution. The problem of distribution is no other than that of market. If production on the farm is increased, improved market facilities to safe- guard the farmer's economic interest in greater profits must eliminate, to some extent, the present waste in distribution. The present and future efforts to avoid this waste must compensate the farmer for raising larger crops, which otherwise would mean only that he would receive the same number of dollars for a greater number of bushels. The two most important economic problems of agriculture are greater production and improved market facilities. Experience seems to prove that co-operation is the keynote to a better system of distribution between producer and consumer and, in brief, to the improvement of market facilities. James H. Teegardin, one of the successful and well-known farmers of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a man who has made a close study of every phase of modern farming. No man has done more than he to emphasize the needs of better

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 71

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