USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 82
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dred and fifty-four acres of farm land. He obtained the greatest part of his wealth after his marriage, and his phenomenal success was due largely through the co-operation of his wife, who was a woman of keen foresight and a faithful heplmate during her husband's life.
Mr. Kimmerle belonged to the Improved Order of Red Men, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Kimmerle is a member of the Daugh- ters of Rebekah and the Daughters of Pocahontas. Mr. Kimmerle belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. His son, Frederick, is a member of the Odd Fellows, and owns a large farm in Jackson township, Putnam county. The family is active in social affairs in this community and is highly re- spected.
HENRY WING.
Perhaps the best known citizen of Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio, is Henry Wing, who, with the exception of four years, has served con- tinuously as postmaster of Miller City since 1889, a period of twenty-six years, twenty-two years of which Mr. Wing has filled this office. Of late years, Mr. Wing has been connected with the telephone exchange at Miller City. The federal government is very exacting of its public servants, and especially of postmasters, and it is a matter of great credit to Mr. Wing that he has held this office for so long a period. Perhaps it is the best testimonial that might he offered in support of his integrity, his business ability and his ability to please the patrons of this office.
Henry Wing was born on June 8, 1851, in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Jarvis and Sarah (Dangler) Wing, the latter of whom was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the former of whom was born in Montgomery county, near Dayton.
The paternal grandparents of Henry Wing were Henry and Elnore (Frazee) Wing, the former of whom was born in Rockingham, Vermont, and the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania. After their marriage they moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, and remained there for some time. Later, they moved to Putnam county, Ohio. This was about 1825, and at this time they settled in Greensburg township, on the Blanchard river. Henry Wing, Sr., first settled on the south side of the river, but later moved to the north side. He entered twenty-five acres of government land and erected primitive buildings. He cleared the land of the heavy timber and was killed in 1843 while working on the road being constructed between Ottawa and
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Defiance. He was survived by his wife and the following children : Jarvis, Oliver, Rhoda, Henry, Elnora, Jane, Austin, Pauline, Cleopatra and Francis M. Of these children Henry, Austin and Frank served during the Civil War, in Ohio regiments. Austin served in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry for four years. Henry served three months. Frank was captured at Harpers Ferry, but was later paroled. Austin was captured at Murfreesboro and confined one month at Salisbury, North Carolina. The mother of these children died on the farm in Greensburg township.
Jarvis Wing was educated in the Greensburg township schools and before his marriage worked on his father's farm. After his marriage he continued to live on the homestead farm, which he had increased to two hundred and twenty-five acres. His father had purchased two hundred acres before his death, and Jarvis Wing bought this entire at the administrator's sale. Jarvis Wing was married to Sarah Dangler, daughter of John and Barbara (Kaylor) Dangler. John and Barbara ( Kaylor) Dangler came from Pennsylvania after their marriage and settled in Greensburg township, bringing their family with them. Henry Wing's mother was but six years old when she came with her parents to Putnam county. The children of John and Barbara (Kaylor) Dangler were Jacob, John, Jr., George, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah and Henry. Both of these parents died in Greensburg township. During his life time Jarvis Wing worked on his farm in Greensburg township. To Jarvis and Sarah (Dangler) Wing were born the following children : Henry, the subject of this sketch : Barbara, deceased ; Ellen, deceased; John; Charles, deceased : Oliver, and two who died in infancy. Jarvis Wing died in Palmer township and his wife died in Topeka, Ohio.
Henry Wing was educated in Greensburg township. During his early life he lived on the home farm. He was married on February 3, 1871, to Adelia Carver, daughter of William and Mariah (Kibby) Carver, of Lor- raine county, Ohio. William Carver served in an Ohio regiment during the Civil War and was killed in the battle of Gettysburg at Culp's Hill. William Carver and wife were the parents of three children, Elizabeth, Nora and Adelia, the wife of Mr. Wing.
Before his marriage, Mr. Wing went to Florida and was there engaged in farming. He was married in Florida and continued to live there for seven years. He then moved to Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio, and en- gaged in farming for ten years. He then went into the saw-mill business and continued in this for some time. Mr. Wing was appointed postmaster of Miller City in 1889 and served continuously ever since with the exception of four years. He also has had charge of the telephone exchange at Miller City for the past sixteen years.
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To Henry and Adelia (Carver) Wing have been born the following children : Nellie, Elizabeth, Lunette, Charles, Fred, Almeda, Edgar, Harold and Florence. Of these children, Nellie married William Binkley, and they live in Scott, Ohio; Lunette married L. B. Hoyt, and they have two children : Elizabeth married A. L. Harmon, and they live in San Francisco, California, and have one child; Charles is in the navy, where he has served twelve years on the battleship "New Jersey"; Fred married Elizabeth Frankhart, and they live in Bellevue, Ohio; Almeda married Al Jones, and they live in Cleveland, and have three children; Edgar, Harold and Florence are still attending school.
It is a matter of some interest that Henry Wing, Sr., the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, helped to survey Putnam county, assisting the government surveyor, Captain Riley, after whom Riley township was named. It is apparent that the Wing family have been identified with the history of Putnam county for many years, not only from this fact, but from the fact that Jarvis Wing, the father of Henry Wing, was brought to Putnam county when he was only six weeks old. Henry Wing is entitled to rank as a repre- sentative citizen of Putnam county and one who has had very much to do with its progress and growth.
Henry Wing is identified with the Republican party. He and his wife and family are all members of the Congregational church.
CHARLES C. BORMAN.
Among the successful business men of his community, the subject of this review has had much to do in advancing the material interests of Put- nam county, Ohio, and making it one of the important commercial centers of this section of the state. The study of such a life cannot fail of interest and incentive, for Mr. Borman is not only a distinctive representative of the banking business, but he has established a reputation for integrity and honor. He is now actively identified with the Peoples Banking Company of Kalida, as cashier, and is numbered among the substantial and worthy citizens of his community. None more than he deserves representation in a work of this character.
Charles C. Borman was born on December 23, 1880, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a son of Valentine and Julianna (Gieringer ) Borman.
Valentine Borman was born in Germany and educated there. He served
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in the German army, coming to America when about twenty-five years of age and settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here he started a livery business and later . a restaurant. Valentine Borman was married first to Johanna Abele, and two children were born to this marriage. After the death of his first wife, he was again married to Julianna Geringer, a daughter of Anthony and Mary Ursula (Schwertzel) Gieringer. He continued to live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and seventeen years after his second marriage he moved to Glendorf, Ohio. Here he served as postmaster. Later, he moved to Coldwater, Ohio, where he lived until his death, April 15, 1906. His wife, Julianna (Gieringer) Borman, died on April 23, 1915. By his second marriage, six children were born, Addie, Anna Julia, Alvin, Charles, the subject of this sketch, and William. Anna married Joseph Witthwarn, who is now deceased, and his widow lives at Aurora, Illinois; Alvin married Gertrine Unverferth, and they live in Dayton, Ohio; Julia married Ben Nienberg, and they live at Glandorf, Ohio; William married Nora Fox and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; Alvin served in the Spanish-American War, having enlisted in the Seventh United States Cavalry. He was in the battle of San Juan Hill.
Charles C. Borman, the subject of this sketch, left Cincinnati, Ohio, with his parents, at the age of ten years, coming to Glandorf, Ohio. Here he grew up, attending the schools of Glandorf and the Ottawa Normal School, in which he taught school for one summer. Mr. Borman also attended the Davis Business College at Toledo, Ohio, and after that, taught school for seven years, at New Cleveland, in Liberty township. He was superintendent of the schools at Miller City, in Palmer township, Putnam county, and was cashier in the bank at Coldwater, Ohio, for seven years. He sold out his banking interest to his brother, and, subsequently, entered the employ of the Butter Tub Company. He was with this company for one and one-half years, when he came to Kalida, Ohio, as the cashier of the Peoples Banking Company. This was in July, 1911. Since that time Mr. Borman has been active in the affairs of this bank. The Peoples Banking Company of Kalida does a remarkable business in this community, and not the least of the credit for this business is due to the energy, good judgment and management of Charles C. Borman.
Mr. Borman is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Wapakoneta, Ohio. He is a Democrat. He was corporation clerk at Glandorf at the age of twenty-one, and is now township treasurer at Kalida, Ohio, which is situated in Union township. Mr. Borman has held other minor offices, among which is that of councilman. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his party. Mr. Borman is a member of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida.
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Charles C. Borman is well known for his democratic habits and is much admired for his sincerity and honesty of purpose. He is level-headed and well-informed on all matters pertaining to the banking business. He bears a high reputation in this community and is a representative citizen and thor- oughly entitled to reputation in this volume.
AUGUST G. VERHOFF.
There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the unbounded esteem of their fellowmen. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues that never fail, such men al- ways make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personalities serves as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class the subject of this review may properly belong. Having never been seized with the wanderlust spirit that has led many of Putnam county's young men to other fields of endeavor and states, August G. Verhoff has devoted himself to vocation as a farmer and to the public duties to which he has been called, and, because of his personal worth and accomplishments, he is clearly entitled to representation among the en- terprising and progressive men of his locality
August G. Verhoff is the descendant of a long line of sterling German ancestry, the full account of which is given elsewhere in this volume under the caption of Theodore Verhoff, his father, and was born on his father's farm on February 5, 1877, being the seventh son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Egbers) Verhoff. August Verhoff was educated in the schools of Greens- burg township, Putnam county, Ohio, and until the age of twenty remained under the parental roof, where he gained practical experience in agriculture and stock raising. Some time before his marriage and while still living with his parents, he managed a virgin farm of eighty acres, which was part of a large tract his father had purchased in section 29 of Greensburg township. This farm required considerable preparation for the production of crops and kept him occupied during the winter months, but in the summer he would put in his time assisting his father. At the age of twenty-six, the subject found it necessary to give his entire time and attention to this eighty acres and at that time, 1908, the father decided to grant him a warranty deed of con- veyance for this farm. During the years between 1900 and 1906, August G. Verhoff lived with his brother, Joseph, and sister, Mary, who kept house for
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them. These young men had but a limited amount of capital and underwent a great many privations and hardships before they were able to get this land into the best condition for profitable production. However, with the true German industry and self-denial, and by the introduction of a drainage sys- tem, this farm, formerly not much better than a swamp, was made a well- paying proposition. In 1909 was begun the erection of necessary farm build- ings, and in 1910. August G. erected his present commodious and comfortable home.
In 1907, with two of his brothers, Frank and Joseph, he bought seventy- six acres near Dornington, in Greensburg township, to which he devotes much attention.
On May 3, 1910, August G. Verhoff was married to Elnora Westbeld, daughter of William and Mary ( Brockman) Westbeld, the father having been born in Glandorf and the mother in Ft. Jennings, Putnam county, Ohio. The paternal grandparents, Bernard and Caroline Westbeld, were born in Germany and came to this country in an early day, settling in Putnam county, Ohio. Caroline Westbeld survives her husband and is now living with her son, Joseph, in Blanchard township, Putnam county. Besides Joseph, there were other children born to this union, as follow: William, Frank, Theresa, Anna, Catherine and Philomena. The maternal grandparents, Joseph and Caroline (Landwehr) Brockman, resided on a farm near Ft. Jennings, Put- nam county, Ohio, where Mrs. Brockman still lives, making her home with a son, Louis Brockman. Other children to this union are Joseph, Henry, Caroline, Mathilda, Elizabeth, Mary.
William Westbeld, after his marriage to Mary Brockman, moved to a farm in Ottawa township. Putnam county, Ohio, and later removed to an eighty-acre tract of land in Union township, near the town of Kalida, Ohio. To them were born seven children, Elnora, the wife of the subject, Cornelius, Lawrence, Regina, Oscar, Linus and Marcella. The daughter, Regina, having decided to make her life's work one devoted to charity, obedience and poverty. is now studying for the sisterhood in the order of the Sisters of Providence, at Newport, Kentucky. All are devout members of St. Michael's Catholic church in Kalida, Ohio.
Immediately after his marriage, August G. Verhoff occupied the resi- dence which he had built on the original farm and to them were born two children, Oscar Theodore, on August 16, 1911, and Norbert William, May 23. 1913.
August G. Verhoff has improved the farm to such an extent that there are now seven large buildings on the place and everything is kept up in a
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business-like way. Mr. Verhoff, in spite of his many farm duties, has found sufficient time to interest himself in public affairs for the good of the com- munity, and, now is serving in a creditable manner in the office of township trustee, is president of the Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company of Kalida, Ohio, secretary of the local agricultural extension society and is treasurer of the Mutual Telephone Company of Kalida, Ohio. In addition to his general farming he has gained for himself an enviable reputation as a stock raiser, although not on a large scale. He is taking a great interest in building up his Shorthorn cattle, which is all registered stock, in which he is an undoubted success. In addition to cattle, he is devoting considerable time and attention to hogs, particularly the Poland China breeds.
Mr. Verhoff is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and is a regular member of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida, Ohio. In all his relations of life, he has been found faithful to every trust confided in him and because of his genuine worth, courteous manners and genial disposition, he has won and retained the warm regard of all with whom he has associated, the latter including the best people of the county. Mr. Verhoff formerly at- tended St. John's Catholic church at Glandorf, where his father still belongs and where he has worshipped for many years.
FRANK J. GIESKEN.
In every community, some men are well known for their upright lives. remarkable common sense, moral worth, rather than for their wealth or political standing. Their neighbors and acquaintances respect them-their example is heeded for the emulation of their fellows. They win their way to success by untiring energy and right principles, and hold the respect of their fellow men by their genuine worth. Among the young business men of Miller City, Ohio, who have won for themselves a commendable degree of success in business, is Frank J. Giesken, a well known hardware dealer of Miller City, Ohio.
Frank J. Giesken was born on January 30, 1889, in Monterey township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Swank) Giesken. Joseph Giesken was born in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, and was educated in the Greensburg township schools and at Glandorf. He was reared as a farmer and helped his father on the farm in Greensburg town- ship. After his marriage, he located in Monterey township, Putnam county, where he owned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He farmed this
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until his death, November 28, 1889. He was married to Sarah Swank, a native of Van Wert county, Ohio, who survived him and who lives on the old homestead farm of eighty acres, forty acres having been sold in Monterey township. To this union were born four children, Mrs. Clementina Leis, of Chesaning, Michigan; Charles, of Chesaning, Michigan; Mrs. Emma Schlu- eter, who lives on the home farm in Monterey township, and Frank J., the subject of this sketch.
Frank J. Giesken was educated in the Monterey township public schools, especially at the special Brooks district No. 2 school in Monterey township. He worked on his father's farm until 1908 and, having learned the carpenter trade, followed this vocation for a period of three years, at Ottoville, Ohio, and in Monterey township. He helped to build the Sister's house in Otto- ville and the school buildings at Ft. Jennings and Vaughnsville, Ohio. He also helped to place the clock in the Catholic church, at Ottoville. Mr. Giesken then clerked in different hardware stores in Glandorf, Ohio, at Chesaning and Hemlock, Michigan. He spent one year in these three places and then came to Miller City, Ohio, and purchased the hardware store owned by M. E. Beck. He is still engaged in this business and enjoys a lucrative trade in Miller City. He is popular and well known for his sound busi- ness principles. Mr. Giesken enjoys a high reputation in this community and is known to be up-to-date and progressive in all of his business methods. He has the agency for Yale motorcycles and Johnson farm machinery.
Frank J. Giesken was married on May 1, 1912, to Anna Vincke, the daughter of Ferdinand F. and Mary (Schlagbaum) Vincke. Ferdinand Vincke was born in Germany, came to America, and now conducts a general mercantile store at Ottoville, Ohio. His wife was born one mile east of Ottoville, Putnam county. To Frank J. and Anna (Vincke) Giesken, one daughter, Celesta Mary, has been born, May 5, 1913. The store of Frank J. Giesken is the centre of trading for the farmers in the immediate vicinity and for miles around Miller City. His up-to-date and thorough stock has earned for him the reputation of the leading hardware and implement mer- chant of this part of the county.
Frank J. Giesken is a member of the Miller City town council and is president of this body. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat. Frank J. Giesken and wife are members of the Catholic church, at Miller City. Mr. Giesken's father and mother were also members of the Catholic church. Joseph Giesken was an excellent farmer and a hard worker during his entire life. He followed general farming and was a man who was well liked by the people of his community. He was known to be a good provider, a kind father and a devoted husband.
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JOHN HENRY SCHIMMOLLER.
John Henry Schimmoller is a native of Putnam county, having been born in Jackson township. At one time Mr. Schimmoller owned a tract of two hundred and thirty-three acres of land, but distributed a hundred and forty acres among his children and now retains, of his original holdings, only ninety-three acres. Mr. Schimmoller is no longer engaged in active farming, but devotes his attention to supervising the ninety-three-acre farm in Jackson township. At one time Mr. Schimmoller was engaged in raising thorough- bred horses, but he gave up that business some time ago. For many years he was prominent in the political and civic life of Jackson township, and held many positions of trust and responsibility.
John Henry Schimmoller was born on June 3, 1840, in Jackson town- ship. He is the son of Francis and Mary ( Ritmeier ) Schimmoller, the former of whom was born in Osnabruck, Province of Hanover, Germany, and who came to this country in 1833, about two years after the arrival of Father Horstman, who settled in Glandorf. Francis Schimmoller was married in Ger- many. His wife accompanied him to this country, as did also their one child, Christina. They settled on a farm near Glandorf, Putnam county, having purchased eighty acres from the government, and remained there for three years. During this period, Mrs. Schimoller died and Mr. Schimmoller later married Mary Ritmeier. He then sold his farm and moved to section 14, of Jackson township, and lived on a farm of fifty-five acres. He cleared and improved all but ten acres of this farm, and here erected buildings. Later he acquired more land, and altogether owned three hundred and sixty acres. By his second marriage there were six children, Frank; John H .; Elizabeth, deceased; William; Louis, deceased, and August, deceased. Francis and Mary (Ritmeier) Schimmoller attended St. Joseph's Catholic church at Ft. Jennings. He was a trustee for a number of years, and died in 1855. His wife died ten years previously, in 1845. Francis Schimmoller was a sub- ·stantial and prosperous farmer and well respected in this community.
His son, John Henry, was educated in Jackson township. During his early youth, he worked on his father's farm. At the death of the father, John Henry worked for six and one-half years for Barney Leopold in the pork-packing business. He inherited sixty-six acres in Jackson township from his father, and then moved here, and erected an addition to the dwelling in which he now lives. It was the original log house and is now covered with siding. With the improvements that have been made, it now makes a sub- stantial and modern house.
PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
. Two years after moving to the farm, on September II, 1861, Mr. Schim- moller was married to Bernadina Maag, who was born in Glandorf, Putnam county, and who is the daughter of Theodore and Catherine ( Doepker ) Maag. To this union were born eleven children, Amelia, on October 7, 1862, married Joseph Dickman and the live in Jackson township and have five children living and one has died ; Frank Theodore, October 2, 1864, married Philomena Pool, who died, and he later married Anna (Tenwalde) Bentley, to whom five children were born by the first marriage and one child by the second mar- riage, they live in Jackson township; William Henry, February 21, 1866, married Catherine Ostendorf, and they live in Ft. Jennings township and have three children living and two dead: Maria Christina, April 30, 1868, died on October 5, 1892: Anna Wilhelmina, April 26, 1870, married Ben Heidecker, and they live in Hazelwood, Ohio, and have three children, one of whom died; Anna Maria Agnes, May 1, 1872, died on January 1, 1889; Josephine Mathilda, July 8, 1874, married Ben Sherman, and they live at Ft. Jennings and have three children ; Louis Edward, October 29, 1876, died on July 29, 1878; George Joseph, November 30, 1879, married Callie Fecker, and they live in Jackson township and have two children; William Arnold died on January 8, 1889, and Albert Edwards, twins, November 19, 1882. Albert Edward married Wilhelmina Becker and lives in Jackson township on the old home place and has two children. Wilhelmina ( Becker) Schimmoller, wife of Albert Edward, was born in Jackson township, daugh- ter of Joseph and Theresa (Streutker) Becker, who lived in Jackson town- ship for many years. Joseph Becker still lives there. His wife died in 1893. They had six children, four of whom are still living, August, Wilhel- mina, Anna and John. On October 10, 1906, Albert Edward Schimmoller and Wilhelmina Becker were married, after which they immediately came to the farm of John Schimmoller and have ever since made this their home. The two children born to them are Edmund, September 27, 1907 and Cleo, October 25, 1912.
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