History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 79

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 79

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Charles W. Beard was married on March 4, 1886, to Lydia Ridenour, the daughter of John and Barbara (Nemire) Ridenour. John Ridenour was a native of Putnam county, and was the first white child born in Ottawa

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township. He was born on April 3, 1834, in Putnam county, and was reared on his father's farm. In 1852 he was married to Barbara Nemire, who was born in Maryland and came to Putnam county, Ohio, when quite young. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Beard were Henry and Margaret ( Bont- haver ) Ridenour, who were early settlers in Putnam county, where they entered land in Ottawa township. Barbara Nemire was one of eight children born to John Nemire and wife. The others were : Hiram, Edward, Samantha, deceased; Mary, Lydia, Henry and John. The father of these children, John Nemire, followed farming in Ottawa township, and died at his home on January 16, 1892. John and Barbara Ridenour had five children, Barbara A., Mary, Lydia J., Henry and John. Barbara A., born on January 21, 1859, married Jonas Shank and has six children. They live near Kalida in Putnam county ; Mary, March 18, 1861, married Alfred Shank and has one son. They live in Ashtabula, Ohio; Lydia J., September 12, 1863, is the wife of Mr. Beard; Henry, September 18, 1864, married Carrie Wright and lives near Ottawa, Putnam county; John, March 14, 1867, married Catherine Farley and has six children. They live near Miller City, Putnam county.

Charles W. Beard and wife moved to a farm owned by his father in Greensburg township, Putnam county. They continued to live there until he purchased the farm upon which he now lives, consisting of eighty acres. Mr. Beard rebuilt the house and erected a new barn and other buildings. During the flood which swept this part of the state he lost a large number of live stock. The water covered almost the entire first floor of his house. Despite this loss Mr. Beard took a new start and has regained it. He is a man of affluence and also of influence. He devotes his farm to general lines and has a well-kept place. Mr. Beard is industrious and a man of strict integrity.

To Charles W. and Lydia (Ridenour) Beard two children have been born, Margaret Ann on January 7, 1887, died in infancy, and Mary, June II, 1884, who is unmarried and lives at home.

Mrs. Charles W. Beard has every reason to be proud of her illustrious ancestors. The Ridenour family dates back to colonial days. They held a family reunion and have printed a volume showing the genealogy of the family. It presents an unbroken line of more than one hundred years.

Charles W. Beard is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Charles W. Beard, wife and family are members of the Christian church and are active in both the work of the church and Sunday school. Mr. Beard was a mem- ber of the school board for eight years, in which office he is still serving. He is now serving on the board of trustees.

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WILLIAM TUDOR.

It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer refers to the life of William Tudor, a prominent young farmer of Sugar Creek township, who has attained success in a vocation which requires definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm consecutive en- deavor or of sudden meteoric accomplishment, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. William Tudor is distinctively one of the representative farmers of Putnam county. By patient and per- sistent endeavor he has succeeded in overcoming many obstacles with which his pathway was beset, and is today considered one of the foremost farmers of this county.

William Tudor was born on July 12, 1877, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Humphrey and Sophia ( Davis) Tudor. Humphrey Tudor was born in 1838 at Drefoldwyn, North Wales. He came to America with his mother in 1857 at the age of eighteen. They shipped from Liverpool, England, and on account of the smallpox on board the ship they changed their course and went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they remained in quarantine for about two months. After this they resumed their journey and landed in New York. He then came to Ohio, and settled near Venedocia, Van Wert county. There he remained for a short time and then removed to Allen county, where he obtained employment with Richard Evans, a farmer, for whom he worked about three years.

During this Humphrey Tudor purchased forty acres of land three miles west of Gomer, in Allen county. He then rented a farm two miles from Gomer. on which he lived for about four years. Just before moving to this farm, and when he was twenty-five years of age, he was married on Novem- ber 7, 1862, to Sophia Davis, who was born near Gomer. To this union were born nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those that sur- vived were as follow: Mary, the wife of Owen B. Owens, who died in March, 1894; Margaret, who died at the age of twenty-four, July 22, 1891; John, who married Kate Griffith; Jennie, who married Elmer Reese, and who died in June, 1894; Elizabeth, who died at the age of sixteen, on June 7, 1891, and William, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Sophia (Davis) Tudor died on April 12, 1883, when William Tudor was not quite six years old.

Humphrey Tudor next moved to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land, known as the Sol. Slusser farm. It was located one and one-half miles south of Vaughnsville. During

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the first summer the family lived in the house on the farm of D. L. Williams while Humphrey Tudor was building a residence on his own farm, and into which the family moved in the fall. On March 27, 1895, Humphrey Tudor was again married to Catherine Jones, of Gomer, Allen county, Ohio. She is the daughter of Cadwalader Jones and wife. To this last union no children were born. Three years after settling here Humphrey Tudor and wife moved to Gomer, where he lived in retirement for seven years, or until his death, March 27, 1895. He was sixty-eight years old at the time of his death.

William Tudor spent his early childhood on the home place, and the remainder of his youth until he was seventeen was spent on a farm just south of the old home place in the edge of Allen county. He received his early education at the old district No. 1, or the old Martz, school. After finishing the common schools he took a normal course at the Lutheran College at Lima, Ohio. The year following, at the age of nineteen, he taught school in1 Sugar Creek township, Allen county. For the ensuing six years he farmed . with his brother John in partnership. They had charge of the two hundred and four acres belonging to their father.

On October 8, 1902, at the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Tudor was married to Anna Leah Griffiths, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, on January 18, 1879. She is the daughter of John D. and Jane A. (Jones) Griffiths. John D. was born in Delaware county, Ohio, near Radner, in 1848, and died in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, in 1881, at the age of thirty-three years He was the son of Thomas D. and Sarah A. (Jones) Griffiths. The former was probably a native of Wales and the latter was of Welsh parentage. Jane A. (Jones) Griffiths was born near Gomer, Allen county, in 1858, and died in Allen county in March, 1879. She was the daughter of Evan W. and Leah (Jones) Jones, both of whom were natives of Wales and who settled near Gomer, where they spent the remainder of their lives. John D. and Jane A. (Jones) Griffiths had but one child, Anna Leah, who is the wife of Mr. Tudor. After the death of his first wife John D. Griffiths was again married to Nancy Brenneman, of Allen county, and the daughter of Martin and Anna Brenneman. One child, Thomas, was born to this union, and he resides at Decatur, Indiana. After the mar- riage of William Tudor he took charge of the old home place, and has resided here ever since. He rented this place of his father while the latter was living, and at his death inherited the farm. William Tudor has always followed general farming and has been quite successful. His home place is well im- proved, having a seven-room, commodious residence, nicely situated, a large barn and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings. Mr. Tudor is

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the owner of one hundred and twenty-four acres of excellent land. He has been very successful in raising and feeding hogs.

After the death of Mrs. Anna Brenneman the daughter was taken by Martin Brenneman and family to be reared. She lived with them for about two years, when her father married a daughter of Mr. Brenneman. She lived with her father until his death, which occurred about a year later. The balance of her childhood was spent with her grandfather, Thomas D. Griffiths, of Gomer.

William and Anna L. (Griffiths) Tudor have two children, John Homer was born on October 31, 1903; Robert on March 13, 1908. William Tudor is a member of the Congregational church. Mrs. Tudor is also a member of this church. Mr. Tudor is a deacon in the church. He is a Republican in politics.

William Tudor is counted not only as a good farmer, but as a substantial citizen and as a man who has added prestige to the agricultural life of Sugar Creek township, where he is so well and favorably known.

AUGUSTUS BACHTALL.

It is always a pleasure to record the life of one who has lived wisely and well, but especially gratifying is it to commemorate those who embody in their character the sturdy qualities of famous ancestry. To endure the hardships of pioneer life required men and women of strong character and resolute purpose, and fortunate indeed is he who comes of such worthy stock. Such is Augustus Bachtall, whose grandfather and uncle fought under Napoleon, and whose father served for seven years in the French army.

Augustus Bachtall, who is now living on a farm near Ottawa, Ohio, was born in Stark county, this state, on February 13, 1849. He is the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Kessler) Bachtall, natives of Alsace-Lorraine, which was at the time of their residence there a part of France.

Both of Mr. Bachtall's grandparents on the father's side were born and died in France. Their children were Mathias, Fred, Catherine, Elaine, John and Nicholas. The grandfather was a soldier under Napoleon, as was also John, who risked his life in the siege of Moscow, and who witnessed the burning of that historic city. While many of his compatriots lost their lives, he returned to France and lived to be honored and aged. The grandparents of Mr. Bachtall on the maternal side, Joseph and Elizabeth Kessler, came to America from Alsace-Lorraine and settled on a farm of one hundred and

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twenty acres in Carroll county, Ohio, where, after living good and useful lives, they passed away. Their family of eight children, while born in the old country, came to America and took up their residence in Carroll county, Ohio. These were John, Philip, Michael, Charles, Louis, Mary, Jacob and Elizabeth.

Nicholas Bachtall, father of the one in whom our interest centers, was born on September 5, 1812, in Alsace-Lorraine, and died on August 20, 1895. He received his early education in the old country, and, true to his military ancestry honored his country by army service for a period of seven years. Coming to this country with his brothers and sisters, who settled in Mas- sillon county, Ohio, he first worked at his trade of wagon making. In 1846 he was married to Elizabeth Kessler, the ceremony taking place in Carroll county. The pioneer instinct was too strong to permit him to be content with a rented home, so nine years later, on April 25, 1855, he and his family moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres two miles north of Ottawa. After clearing the land he built a splendid home, and engaged in successful farming until his death in 1895. He was prominent in local politics, being a Democrat, and during all of his life attended the Catholic church.

Nicholas Bachtall was survived by seven children, Augustus, Elizabeth, Caroline, Mary, Leo, Addie and Josephine. Augustus, in whom we are especially interested, was six years old when, with his parents, he left Stark county, Ohio, and migrated to Putnam county. Anxious to succeed as a farmer, the young man learned from his father the secrets of successful agriculture. He married Agnes Brendinghoff in 1886, continuing to make his home on the farm with his parents. Some years after the death of his first wife Mr. Bachtall was married to Ella Reardon. The second wife passed away in 1897. The children of this union were August, born on December 29, 1891 ; Carence, October 29, 1896; and Mary E., May 29, 1893. The eldest son, August, married Viola Fry, widow of John Fry, and her maiden name was Viola Yager. the ceremony taking place in November, 1913. Only nine- teen days after the birth of their son, Erwin Clarence, who was born on Sep- tember 3, 1914, the young wife died.

Augustus Bachtall and his son, August, Jr., are now living on a farm of one hundred and twelve acres in Ottawa township .. While the active manage- ment of the farm is carried on by the younger of the two Bachtalls, yet the experience of the older man makes him a valuable assistant in matters per- taining to agricultural enterprises.

Augustus Bachtall, Jr., is a young man possessing just such sterling qualities as one coming from a fighting ancestry would be expected to pos-

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sess. He is alert, ambitious and energetic. His usual gaiety of spirits, how- ever, has been marred by the death of his young wife. Since his six years of schooling in Ottawa, he, too, has been engaged in farming. Like his father, Augustus Bachtall, Jr., has always been a Democrat, and a life-long member of the St. John's Catholic church at Glandorf.

While limiting his business activities to farming, Mr. Bachtall did so in such a way as to become well-known in his community, and to merit the con- fidence and respect of those who knew him.

CARL MATHIAS GERDEMANN.

The twentieth century farmer knows very little of the disadvantages which surrounded the pioneer farmers of this state. No longer is the farmer compelled to rise early in the morning and continue his labors far into the night. The farmer of today can do as much work in half a day as his fathers, fifty years ago, could do in a whole day. The free mail delivery leaves the daily paper at his door each morning, his telephone, puts him in communication with his neighbors, while the interurban car and automobile enable him to participate in all the features of city life. The present generation of farmers have no forest to clear, few swamps to drain, while hundreds of inventions designed to lighten the labors of the farmers have been put into their hands. One of the farmers of Putnam county who has taken advantage of the mod- ern inventions and improvements is Carl Mathias Gerdemann, of Union township.

Carl Mathias Gerdemann was born near Glandorf, in Putnam county, Ohio, on May 9, 1869. He is the son of Henry and Bernadina (Eickholt) Gerdemann, both natives of Putnam county, the former of whom was born on February 19, 1842, and who himself was the son of Casper and Anna Gerde- mann, natives of Germany, and the latter of whom was born on May 15, 1846, the daughter of Barney and Elizabeth (Nieman) Eickholt, also natives of Germany.

Casper Gerdemann and his wife, Anna, came to America from Germany and located in Putnam county. They were the parents of seven children, Casper, Joseph, Henry, Mathias, Theodore, Mary and Eliabeth. Theodore was a soldier in the Civil War, having served in an Ohio regiment. He was captured by the enemy and died in a military prison. Casper and Anna Gerde- mann were prominent and influential members of the community in which they

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lived and active in all the good works of the neighborhood. They were bur- ied in Grandview cemetery. Barney Eickholt and his wife, Elizabeth, who was a Nieman, also came from Germany to Putnam county, at an early date, and settled near Glandorf. They were the parents of six children, Joseph. Martha, Henry, William, Charles and Bernadina, the last of whom was the mother of the immediate subject of this sketch.

Henry Gerdemann, Sr., grew to manhood on the paternal farm near Glandorf. He was married, on May 5, 1868, to Bernadina Eickholt, and im- mediately moved to a farm of one hundred and ten acres in Union township. Henry Gerdemann has lived retired during recent years, with his son, Henry, Jr. His wife died in March, 1915. Henry, Sr., and Bernadina (Eickholt) Gerdemann had thirteen children, Charles married Anna Sandeer ; Andrew married Ida Darling; Katherine married Henry Hamburg; Barney married Anna Brinkman ; John married Mary Long; William married Mary Schroe- der; Elizabeth married Henry Verhoff; Amelia married William Marman; Josephine is unmarried; Bernadina married Joseph Marmon; Henry married Emma Merschman; Carl Mathias is the subject of this sketch, and Mathias married Elizabeth Schumacher.

Carl Mathias Gerdemann attended school in Union township at the Barney Fortman school and lived on his father's farm until his marriage. He worked out for two years on other farms in Greensburg township. He helped to clear and develop his father's farm.

Carl Mathias Gerdemann was married, on May 1, 1901, to Anna Sander, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Vorst) Sander, both of whom were na- tives of Hanover, Germany. Mrs. Gerdemann's maternal grandparents were Theodore and Elizabeth Vorst, who were farmers in Germany. Their chil- dren were Henry, Herman, Theodore, Mathias, Frank, Philomena, Elizabeth, Catherine, Christina and Carolina. Of these, Elizabeth, Catherine, Chris- tina, Carolina and Bernard came to this country. Mrs. Gerdemann's paternal grandparents were also natives of Hanover, Germany, and lived and died in that country. Mrs. Gerdemann's parents were married in Germany, where father died. Her mother married Joseph Busch a number of years after her first husband's death and came to America with her family, settling on a farm near Kalida. The children of the first marriage were Anna, Josephine and Henry. Anna is the wife of Carl Mathias Gerdemann. Henry married Emma Grover, and lives in Kalida. Josephine married Andrew Wehrie and lives near Kalida. The mother of these children died in 1913. She was survived by her husband and children. The husband lives on the old farm.

After his marriage, Carl Mathias Gerdemann and wife moved to a farm

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of sixty acres in section 18, in Union township. Mr. Gerdemann had bought this farm five years before his marriage. He has erected all the buildings on the place and has a splendid farm. His barn is covered with a tile roof.

To Carl Mathias and Anna (Sanders) Gerdemann five children have been born, Aloysius, on May 31, 1903; Lawrence, October 2, 1906; Otto, July 18, 1911; Ludwina, February 24, 1913; Mary, October 17, 1914, died on January 17, 1915. Carl Mathias Gerdemann is engaged in general farm- ing. He raises a great many cattle of all kinds, and hogs.

Carl Mathias Gerdemann, wife and family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida. Mr. Gerdemann belongs to St. Joseph's Benevo- lent Society. He is a Democrat. A step-brother of Mrs. Gerdemann's, Henry Busch, is studying for the priesthood at the present time at Spokane, Wash- ington. The Gerdemann family is among the oldest in this section of the country and among the most highly respected in Putnam county. Carl Ma- thias Gerdemann is a splendid farmer and a representative citizen of this vicinity.

CLARENCE AUGUSTUS BURKHART.

While success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, the fu- tility of effort is often noticeable in the business world and results from the fact that it is not combined with sound judgment. Many a man who gives his entire life to toil, earnest and unremitting, never acquires a competence, but when his labor is well-directed, prosperity always follows. Clarence Au- gustus Burkhart is one whose work has been supplemented by careful man- agement, and today he is numbered among the successful farmers of the lo- cality in which he lives.

Clarence Augustus Burkhart was born on his father's farm in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, January 9, 1873. He is a son of John and Sarah (Cleveneger) Burkhart, the father having come to Putnam county from Reading, Pennsylvania, and the mother was a native of Union township, Putnam county. John Burkhart was a shoemaker by trade, having acquired a knowledge of that business during his youth in Pennsylvania, but did not follow it. Upon his arrival from Pennsylvania, he was married to Sarah Clevenger, and they went to live on the old Isaac McCracken farm, as renters of the place. Three years later, however, he purchased a tract of one run- dred and sixty-four acres in 'Union township and continued farming until his death. He was a faithful supporter of the Democratic party and an ardent member of the Methodist church. While not being an aspirant to high polit-

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ical office, yet he was elected to the office of township trustee, which office he served with credit and honor. To John Burkhart and wife there were born, William, Albert, Milton, Hattie, Paul, Rosa (deceased), and August. The mother was married a second time to William Rambo, and they reside in Kalida, Ohio. Of her children, Hattie is the wife of Albert Stump and lives in Union township, this county; Milton married Nora McDowell; William married Myrtle Sarber, they reside in Lucas county; August, the subject of this review, and Albert married Nora Johnson.

Clarence Augustus Burkhart, having lost his father by death when he was but five years old, went to live with an uncle, Amos Beam, who lives in Union township. In this locality he received his early education and remained on his uncle's farm until he arrived at mature age. He was married, on June II, 1907, to Tizbie Smith, daughter of Madison and Caroline ( Eckley) Smith, the former being a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and the latter of Put- nam county, Ohio. Mr. Smith has been a traveling salesman for the whole- sale grocery firm of Overmeyer & Co., of Toledo, Ohio, since 1891, and covers a large territory in the interests of that firm. His father was one of the pioneer settlers of Monroe township, Putnam county, the home being sixteen miles from Ottawa, the county seat. Many times he has related to his children of walking to and from Ottawa for provisions in the early days. To him and his wife were born Tizbie, Savilla, Seldon, Harley and Felicia, all of whom enjoy the continued devotion of their parents, who are still living, and are active members of the Methodist church. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Burkhart were Adam and Margaret (Shovis) Smith, natives of the state of Ohio, to whom were born Sylvester, William, Salathiel, Arthur, Le- titia Jane, Lorenzo, Sanford, Madison, Edson, and an infant who died very soon after birth. Sylvester was a soldier during the Civil War, serving with the Federal forces, and later on studied for and became a Methodist clergy- man. The maternal grandparents were John and Eliabeth Eckley of Putnam county, whose children were Mary, Jane, Caroline, Ancil and Doretta. John Eckley was also a soldier in the Civil War with the Federal forces.

Immediately after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart they lived on the farm occupied by Albert M. Burkhart, part of which C. A. owned for five years. He had purchased a farm consisting of one hundred and sixteen acres in Union township before marriage and now makes this place their home. The house was thoroughly remodeled, new barns and outhouses constructed, and everything indicating a certain degree of prosperity. To this couple were born Ivan, on August 7, 1909, and Doris, October 23, 1911. All of the fam- ily are members of the Methodist church and to this Mr. Burkhart is a liberal

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giver, according to his means. The wife is a woman of genial disposition and has always done her share toward the encouragement of her husband's undertakings.

Before her marriage Mrs. Burkhart taught school. She graduated at the high school of Dupont, Ohio, and also the normal school. She taught school for five years, two years of which were taught in the Kalida schools.

Mr. Burkhart is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has served the community as township trustee. He was also a member of the town coun- cil, is not an aspirant for public office in any sense, but as an official has ren- dered most valuable service to the community. Personally, he is a good busi- ness farmer, highly intelligent, genial, well-informed on current topics, and a man in whom the utmost confidence is reposed by those who know him best. He is now serving as a member of the township school board.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 79

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