History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 76

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 76

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THOMAS S. WILLIAMS.

Thomas S. Williams, long one of the leading farmers and stock men of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, is noted for his strong indi- viduality, breadth of wisdom and indomitable perseverance. He used wisely and well the talents with which he was endowed, and has directed his efforts along the lines pointed out by good judgment and discrimination. Mr. Will- iams is possessed of a rare measure of native sagacity, fidelity to purpose and sincerity in all the relations of life. He belongs to one of the old-time families of Putnam county, and from many standpoints is entitled to rank as one of its representative citizens.

Thomas S. Williams was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, on the old homestead of his father, south of Vaughnsville, on January 16, 1867. He is the son of David L. and Mary ( Griffiths ) Williams. David L. Williams was born in North Wales, on January 16, 1832, and died on the old Williams homestead, south of Vaughnsville, on February 6, 1908, at the ripe old age of seventy-six years and eight months. He was the son of Hugh and Catherine (Lloyd) Williams, both natives of North Wales. Hugh Williams was a quarryman and was killed as the result of a blast in a stone quarry. His death occurred when David L. Williams, father of Thomas S., was a mere lad. His wife, who before her marriage was Catherine Lloyd, survived him a few years. They had four children, two sons and two daugh- ters, the eldest of whom was David L., the father of Thomas S.

David L. Williams spent his youth in Wales and, while a lad, he had the misfortune to receive an injury to one of his eyes, which nearly resulted in the loss of the eye. He also suffered an injury to his knee which caused him to adopt the trade of a shoemaker. Fortunately, the injured knee grew better in later years and he then gave up his work as a shoemaker. David L. Williams received a limited education in his native country, but he later

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improved himself by home study and became a well-informed man. He was very fond of music in which he was quite proficient. For many years he was the leader of the choir in the Vaughnsville Congregational church. Mr. Williams helped to organize this church and was a charter member. When he was twenty-four years of age, about 1856, he came to America and located first at Rome, New York, where he was employed for about a year on a farm. He then came to Licking county, Ohio, where he located at Newark, and resumed farming. It was a few years later, February 1, 1860, that he was married at the age of twenty-eight, to Mary Griffiths, who was born in South Wales, September 17, 1835, and who was the daughter of William T. and Charlotte (Jones) Griffiths. She came to America with her parents when a very small child. They settled in Licking county where they were farmers, and it was here that they spent the remainder of their lives. There were nine children, seven daughters and two sons, born to Mrs. David Will- iams' parents, of whom she was the third child.

After his marriage, David L. Williams, who owned a small farm in Licking county, Ohio, continued to farm there for about six years. In the spring of 1866, he moved to Putnam county, settling in Sugar Creek town- ship, one mile south of Vaughnsville, where he bought eighty acres of land and, a little later, added forty acres more to his original farm. This farm was pretty well improved by that time. It had a large frame house and barn, and had about sixty acres cleared. David L. Williams was a very successful farmer, who came to America a poor boy and by dint of energy and perseverance accumulated about five hundred and sixty acres of land. He was a Republican in politics, originally, but in later years became a Demo- crat. He was one of Putnam county's most substantial citizens, a devout Christian and a man of especially high ideals and of unquestionable integrity. Mrs. Mary (Griffiths) Williams was also a member of the Congregational church. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and a woman admired by her neighbors. She died two years prior to the death of her husband, May 19, 1907. They had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to maturity. They are as follow: William G., on November 15, 1860; John D., March 10, 1862; Catherine, October 14, 1863; Char- lotte, August 7, 1865, and died at the age of twenty-three years in July, 1888; Thomas S., the subject of this sketch, January 16, 1867; David L., December 21, 1869; Henry R., November 5, 1871; Hugh, November 19, 1873; Mary, January 30, 1876; and Walter E., November 26, 1878. All of these children married except Charlotte.

Thomas S. Williams was born on January 16, 1867. He spent his child- hood and youth on his father's farm. He attended the old Michael district

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school and, after finishing the common schools, continued to help his father on the old home place, where he remained until twenty-three years of age or until the time of his marriage.

Thomas S. Williams was married on February 19, 1890, to Mary J. Edwards, who was born on the homestead of her father, August 23, 1865, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio. She was the daughter of Josiah and Susan (Breese) Edwards. Josiah Edwards was born in Mont- gomeryshire, North Wales, on May 30, 1826, and was the son of Josiah, Sr., and Margaret (Jones) Edwards. Josiah Edwards, Sr., was a farmer by occupation and lived and died in Wales. Josiah Edwards, Jr., and wife and one child came to America in 1855, settling first in Utica, New York, where he was employed on a dairy farm. The following fall, in 1855, they came to Allen county, Ohio, and settled at Gomer. His first employment was with Griffith John, a contractor who built the Pennsylvania railroad from Lima to Elida. The following summer he rented a farm on "Calico Ridge" in Sugar Creek township, Allen county. Here he lived for about seven years when he moved in 1862 to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, and set- tled on eighty acres, one and one-half miles southwest of Vaughnsville on the old Ridge road. This farm he bought in its virgin state, only an acre or two being cleared. Josiah Edwards proceeded to clear and drain his land and improve it and succeeded in getting it all under cultivation except about eight acres. He built a large frame house in 1873, consisting of ten rooms, and a large frame barn in 1879. He was always engaged in general farm- ing. He was a very successful farmer and attributed his success mostly to raising corn and hogs. He was also successful in raising good horses.

Josiah Edwards, Jr., enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, near the close of the Civil War. He was a "hundred days" soldier, having been mustered in, May 13, 1864, at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered out on August 27, 1864. The regiment was first stationed at Forts Sumpter, Mansfield and Simmons. During the active operations of the rebels against Washington, D. C., on July II and 12 the larger part of the regiment was under fire. Several of the companies were in the forts which were engaged in the battle.

Josiah and Susan (Breese) Edwards had one child before coming to America. This child, John, who was but four years old when his parents came to Allen county, died the day after their arrival at Gomer. The par- ents came by canal boat from Utica, New York, to Buffalo, and thence by steamer to Cleveland and Toledo on Lake Erie. Then they followed the Miami and Erie canal from Toledo to Delphos and walked from this place to Gomer. There were five children born to Josiah and Susan (Breese)

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Edwards, John, born in Wales, January 21, 1851, died at Gomer, November 8, 1855 : Margaret, the second child was the deceased wife of B. F. Thomas; Joseph B. is the subject of a personal sketch in this volume; Mary married Mr. William, the subject of this sketch; John W. was the fifth child. Josiah Edwards died on August 17, 1897, at the ripe old age of seventy-one years. He was a member of the Gomer Congregational church and a deacon of this church for many years. His wife also was a member. He was a Repub- lican in politics, a devout Christian and a man of high ideals.

After his marriage, Thomas S. Williams was employed during the first summer on neighboring farms. The following spring he and his wife moved to the old James Clevenger farm just south of his father's old homestead. He rented a part of the farm from his father and here remained for about two years. He then traded a forty acre farm in Allen county, which he received from his father, for sixty-seven acres, one and one-half miles west of Vaughnsville on the Valley road. In this transaction Mr. Williams paid the difference in money between the forty and sixty-seven acres. This new farm had an old plank house of four rooms and a frame barn. On January 24. 1895, this house was destroyed by fire. In this fire Mr. Williams and wife lost their two children, David and Minnie, four and one-half and one and one-half years, respectively. It is an event that will live forever in their memories as the greatest tragedy of their lives. David was born on Novem- ber 23, 1890, and Minnie on June 23, 1894, both of whom died on January 24, 1895. After this, Mabel was born on June 1, 1896; John Walter, April 24, 1899; Homer, November 24, 1903, and Robert Earnest was born on April 24, 1907.

Thomas S. Williams has continued to live on the present farm since moving here. He has greatly improved it by the erection of a commodious eight-room residence which is nicely situated. In addition to this. he has added to his farm and erected other buildings in keeping with the surround- ings. Mr. Williams has been successful in raising wheat, but of late years he has been devoting his attention to corn and hogs, and has been very successful.

Thomas S. Williams and wife are members of the Vaughnsville Congre- gational church. Their two eldest children, Mabel and John Walter, are also members of this church. Mabel is a senior in the Vaughnsville high school, a member of the class of 1916. Thomas S. Williams is one of Sugar Creek township's and Putnam county's substantial citizens and well and favorably known in this section of Putnam county and is entitled to representation in this volume.

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MATHIAS J. KERNER.

Among the well-known and popular citizens of Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, is he whose name heads this sketch Mr. Kerner is of a sociable nature, who readily wins friends and retains them by virtue of his sincere friendliness and generous disposition. He is considered one of the most tip-to-date farmers of the community, having a splendid equipment for his chosen life work, and the excellent condition of the residence and other buildings bespeak success in his undertaking.

Mathias J. Kerner is a native of this county, having been born on a farm in section 22 of Greensburg township on April 6, 1874. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Schaeffer ) Kerner and is the eldest of their family. The other children are Elizabeth, Caroline, deceased; Amalia Kathrina, Mary Theresa. Mary Ann, John Edward and Rosa. Joseph Kerner, father of our subject, is a son of Mathias and Elizabeth Kerner, who were among the early settlers of this county. The father was a native of Germany and the mother was from Pennsylvania. The parents were married on November 6, 1872, and after marriage continued to live on the farm formerly owned by Joseph Kerner's father, and on that farm he has lived almost his entire life. Mary Schaeffer, mother of Mathias J. Kerner, was the daughter of Henry and Agnes (Hoffman) Schaeffer, both of whom were natives of Germany, coming from Hanover, where they were married, and shortly after marriage left for this country. After living on one or two different places they finally settled in Glandorf, this county. They were the parents of three children, John, Clara and Mary.

Mathias J. Kerner attended the district schools near his home when a boy and in young manhood worked with his father on the home farm and for twenty-one years followed the occupation of a thresherman. He was united in marriage on October 21, 1896, to Mary Merschman, daughter of John and Clara Merschman, both natives of this county, where they still reside. Mrs. Kerner is one of a family of eleven children, namely : Frank, Mary, Amelia, William, deceased; Veronica, Lucy, Emma, Helena, Harry, deceased; John and Petronella. John Merschman, father of Mrs. Kerner, is a son of Barney and Katherine (Hageman) Merschman, both natives of Germany, who came to this county at a comparatively early date in its history, and settled on a farm, where they lived for many years. Mrs. Kerner's mother is a daughter of Joseph and Gertrude Gattman, also natives of Germany, who lived in this county for many years and were accounted among the worthy residents thereof.

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Mathias J. Kerner and wife have an interesting family of five children, the eldest of whom is their daughter Eleanore, born on March 13, 1898; Harry, August 26, 1900, assists the father in the work of the farm; Loretta, November 22, 1902; Emma, November 15, 1906, and Victor, December 26, 1912. All of the children still remain under the parental roof. Mr. Kerner has a well-kept farm of forty acres and is one of the progressive men of the community. Mrs. Kerner is a charming and intelligent woman and the entire family is well liked by a large circle of friends. Their pleasant home is the center of a delightful spirit of friendliness, which includes both well estab- lished friend and stranger alike.

The entire family are communicants of the St. John's Catholic church at Glandorf, and Mr. Kerner holds his fraternal affiliation with the Knights of Columbus, while in politics he votes the Democratic ticket.

JAMES H. MILLER.

Fealty to fact in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type of James H. Miller, a well-known successful farmer in Sugar Creek township, is always required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community honored by his residence, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs more than any other consideration that gives character and stability to the body politic. While advancing his individual interest, he has never lost sight of his obligation to the community in general, and for many years he has held a high place in popular confidence and esteem.

James H. Miller was born in Sugar Creek township on September 9, 1866, the son of Jacob W. and Catherine ( Best ) 'Miller, for personal mention of whom the reader is referred to the subject's brother, George W. Miller, elsewhere in this volume.

James H. Miller was reared on the paternal homestead and there spent his youth and young manhood, attending to the duties of the farm and se- curing his education in the schools of the neighborhood. In addition to the ordinary duties he also applied himself to the clearing of about sixty acres of the home farm. He has spent practically his entire life here, and has earned a high reputation among those who know him because of his success as a farmer and because of his high standing as a citizen in private life. He is now the owner of one hundred acres of land considered as good as any in Putnam county, and his place is improved with a substantial eleven-

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room residence, finely situated, located one-eighth of a mile south of the Ridge road and one and three-quarter miles east of Vaughnsville. A large barn, cattle shed and other buildings go to make up the group of structures which make his farm one of the up-to-date and pleasing views of the com- munity. In the operation of his farm Mr. Miller has not specialized along any one line, but has followed a general system of farming, raising such crops as are common to this locality. He has also given considerable attention to the breeding of Double Standard Pure-bred Polled Durham cattle, of which he has a herd of twenty head. For a number of years he has been a feeder of cattle for the market.

James H. Miller was married on May 18, 1914, to Carrie Garner, who was born in Sugar Creek township on March 10, 1880, the daughter of James W. and Lydia Ann (Slusser) Garner. James Garner was born in Virginia on July 3, 1837, and was the son of William and Elizabeth (Stone) Garner, also natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio in an early day, settling in Sugar Creek township, one mile northeast of Vaughnsville. At the out- break of the Civil War James Garner proved his patriotism by enlisting as a private in the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which command was assigned to the western army and, with his regiment, Mr. Garner took part in many of the most arduous campaigns and battles of that great struggle, including the memorable march to the sea, with its attendant skirmishes and conflicts. At the conclusion of hostilities Mr. Garner returned home and was married to Lydia Ann Slusser, after which he settled on a farm one and three-quarter miles east of Vaughnsville, where he remained until his last years, which were spent on the farm now owned by George W. Miller, where his death occurred on November 29, 1907. His wife, Lydia Ann Slusser, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on February 8, 1847, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Abbot) Slusser. She came to Putnam county with her parents when only a child, the family settling one and one- half miles east of Vaughnsville on the Ridge road. To these parents were born ten children, Nora Belle on August 12, 1867, died on December 16, 1893 ; Eliza Ann, September 16, 1869; Viola May, September 4, 1871 ; James Madison, October 25, 1873; Della Jane, March 22, 1876; Ella Leora, Feb- ruary 8, 1878, died on August 9, 1904; Susan Carrie, November 10, 1880; Charles Sherman, May 21, 1882; Mary Elizabeth, January 25, 1886, and an infant son, who died at birth. Lydia Ann (Slusser) Garner died on July 27, 1912.

In his political views Mr. Miller gives his support to the Democratic party, though too busy with his own affairs to give much attention to matters

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of public importance. His religious connections are with the Christian church, of which his wife is also a member. The testimony is ample that Mr. Miller is a good citizen in the full sense of the term and worthy of honor and public trust, ever doing worthily and well whatever he puts his hand to do.

JOHN A. SCHUTZ.

Success in life comes to the deserver. It is an axiom demonstrated by all human experience that a man gets out of this life what he puts into it, with a reasonable interest on the investment. The individual who inherits a large estate and adds nothing to his fortune cannot be called a successful man. He that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value, is suc- cessful in proportion to the amount he adds to his possession. But the man who starts in the world unaided and, by sheer force of will, controlled by correct principles, forges ahead, and at length reaches a position of honor among his fellow-citizens, achieves success such as representatives of the two former classes cannot understand nor appreciate. To a considerable extent, the subject of this sketch is a creditable representative of the class last named, a class which has furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country, and has added to the stability of our government and its institu- tions.

John A. Schutz was born on November 30, 1861, in Berne, Switzerland. He was the son of Jacob and Anna (Gruber) Schutz. Jacob Schutz was born in April, 1829, in Berne, Switzerland, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Schutz. Jacob Schutz, Sr., and his wife were farmers and reared a large family. He was a cheesemaker.

Jacob Schutz, Jr., moved from the canton of Berne to the canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, when John A. was only one and one-half years old. This county is along the French border, and here his parents again took up farming. John A. Schutz attended the schools in his neighborhood until he was thirteen years old. For three years afterward he attended the night school. He helped his father until he was twenty-one years of age and then came to America in 1883, direct to Pandora, Ohio. Jacob Schutz, Jr., and wife were the parents of fourteen children-Elizabeth, Jacob, Gottfried, deceased; Albert, John A., Mary, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Anna, Amiel and Louisa. Four children died in infancy.

Jacob Schutz, Jr., and wife came to America and settled in Allen

JOHN A. SCHUTZ AND FAMILY.

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county, Ohio, in 1884. Four years later they moved to Tippecanoe county, ten miles southeast of Lafayette, Indiana, and here he died about seven or eight years later, in 1895. His wife then returned to Ohio and lived with her son, John A. Schutz, and her daughter, Louisa, until her death, in Octo- ber, 1906.

John A. Schutz was twenty-one years of age when he arrived in Amer- ica, April 1, 1883. He came directly to Putnam county, and worked in the stone quarries in that district. He followed other odd jobs for about three years and then learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for two years. At the age of twenty-six Mr. Schutz had saved considerable money.

At this time, May 24, 1887, John A. Schutz was married to Mary Bixler, who was born on the old Bixler homestead, June 22, 1860. She was the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Welty) Bixler, the former of whom was born in Wayne county on June 4, 1831, and the latter in Wayne county on April 14, 1832. Jacob Bixler was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Kammerman) Bixler, both of whom were natives of Switzerland, the former of whom was born in 1801 and the latter on September 28, 1797. They emigrated to America on the Danish ship "Tetes," whose voyage took. forty-four days to cross the water. Mrs. Bixler was the daughter of John and Barbara (Lugibihl) Welty, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter a native of France. She came to America in 1821. Jacob Bixler and wife had two children, Sarah, who married Albert Schutz, and Mary, who married John A. Schutz.

Jacob Bixler, Sr., started for America on May 14, 1821, and landed in July of that year at New York City, and later became a pioneer of Putnam county. Jacob Bixler and wife were the parents of the following children : Anna, who died in infancy; Abraham, deceased; Barbara, Peter, Christian, John, Elizabeth, Jacob Jr., Anna, Abraham, Daniel, deceased; Daniel, Cath- erine, deceased; Mary and David, only two of whom are living.

John Welty was born on November 14, 1797, a native of Switzerland. He came to America in 1824 and settled in Wayne county, Ohio. Later came Barbara (Lugibihl) Welty, his wife, who was born in February, 1807, and who died on November 4, 1883. She came with her parents to America in 1825, when she met and married John Welty in Wayne county. To them were born nine children-Christian, Catherine, Barbara, Peter, Anna, Mag- dalena, May, Fannie and John, who died in infancy, only two of whom are living at this time.

After Mr. Schutz's marriage he rented the old Bixler homestead, one and

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one-half miles east of Pandora, which he later bought. At this time it com- prised eighty acres, to which Mr. Schutz later added twenty acres, and then he purchased the old John Suter farm of one hundred acres, on which he now lives. Mr. Schutz has always done general farming, and during recent years has made a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs.

Mr. Schutz purchased a lumber yard and planing mill at Pandora about 1902, where he moved on account of his wife's failing health. He operated this mill for five years, and then sold out and returned to the farm. In addi- tion to his other interests, Mr. Schutz is a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank- ing Company at Pandora.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schutz-Martha, who died in infancy ; Lavina, who is the wife of Walter Geiger and lives on the old home place; Hiram, who lives with his sister, Lavina; Elmer, who is unmarried and a student in Otterbein University; Hula, who is unmarried and at home, and Matilda, who died in infancy.

John A. Schutz has been a member of the Putnam county fair board for eight years. He is a Democrat and has served his township as trustee for twelve years. He and his wife are members of the Grace Mennonite church. John A. Schutz is one of the most substantial citizens of this community. He is a man of resolute determination and high ideals, and enjoys the entire confidence of the people who live in his community. No better evidence of this can be cited than the long term which he has served the people of Riley township as trustee, the duties of which office Mr. Schutz has discharged to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

CHARLES RHODES.

One of the well-known farmers of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, who has long been prominent in the agricultural life of this county, is Charles Rhodes, a native of Sugar Creek township and the grand- son of one of the pioneer settlers of this county. The Rhodes family has long been connected with the history of Sugar Creek township and in all of these years have gained for themselves an enviable reputation for sobriety, intelligence and congeniality. They have long been known for their success in agricultural affairs and for the large measure which they have contributed to the progress and prosperity of this section of Putnam county.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 76

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