History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 87

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 87

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William J. and Anna (Simon) Varner are the parents of five children : Nettie, Gertrude, Carl C., Zoe and Laura. Nettie is the wife of John T. Matheny and lives in Greensburg township and has three sons, Nelson, Howard and John Nelson; Gertrude is the wife of William Fridley and lives near Pandora on a farm and has three children, Ethel, Clarence and Charles; Carl C. married Lene Wagner and lives in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on a

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farm, where he gives much attention to the dairy business, and has four children, Irene, Jay, William Lowell and Carl Gordon; Zoe is the wife of Eugene R. Hunt, of Ottawa, and has three sons, Lucius, Theodore and Will- iam; Laura, the youngest child, died at the age of sixteen.

William J. Varner has always identified himself with the Republican party, and, although he did not seek the office, he was elected treasurer of his township. For about ten years he served on the Putnam county board of agriculture. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and also belongs to the chapter and council. He is a public-spirited and broad-minded citizen and deeply interested in the welfare of those around him, and such a man as lends stability to our commonwealth.

DANIEL M. LEFFLER.

It is a well-authenticated fact that success comes as a result of legitimate and well-applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a course of action which one has decided upon. Success was never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer. Only the men who have. diligently sought her favors are crowned with her blessing. In tracing the history of Daniel M. Leffler, a grocer and influential citizen of Leipsic, Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio, it is plainly seen that the success which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities, and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him and those who have had business relations with him.

Daniel M. Leffler, a well-known grocer of Leipsic, was born on Decem- ber 21, 1869, in Leipsic, Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Daniel G. and Lavina (Hyde) Leffler. The late Daniel G. Leffler, who, during his life, was a commissioner of Putnam county, was born on August 13, 1837, in Fairfield county, Ohio, the son of Solomon and Christina (Weidner) Leffler. Solomon Leffler was born in Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, February 8, 1808, and died on February 25, 1898. His wife, whom he married on October 10, 1833, was born on May 19, 1815, in Wit- tenburg, Germany, and died on August 27, 1895. When a young man, Daniel G. Leffler came to Putnam county with his parents, who located two and one- half miles north of Leipsic. After living here for twenty-five years, they moved into Leipsic and lived here until their death. Daniel G. Leffler an- swered Lincoln's first call for volunteers, and in April, 1861, enlisted for

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three months in the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He re-enlisted at the expiration of this period and served for three years, or until Lee had surrendered in Company I, Forty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. Mr. Leffller was wounded three times at Chickamauga. After the war, he married Lavina Hyde in June, 1866. She was born three miles north of Leipsic and was the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Hyde, who came from Germany.

Mr. Leffler went into the merchandise business in Leipsic about 1866, and continued until 1883, when the store was changed into a grocery. He conducted this store until 1890, when he was succeeded by his sons, Daniel M. and Charles H. He devoted his time, after this period, to looking after his farm and attending to his interests in public affairs. He was a Demo- crat and a member of the first city council of Leipsic, and served, in all, twelve years as a councilman. At the same time, he was a member of the board of education, treasurer of the school board, and also treasurer of Leipsic. He was appointed county commissioner in 1894 to serve out an un- expired term, and was elected and re-elected, in all seven years. He died on January 4, 1912, while his widow still lives in Leipsic. They were both members of the Lutheran church. Donald G. and Lavina (Hyde) Leffler were the parents of five children, of whom four are living: Charles H .; Daniel M .; Ella A., the wife of T. H. Whisler; and Arletta J., the wife of R. C. Firestine. Edward V. died on July 13, 1901. Mr. Leffler built a hotel at the corner of Defiance and Commercial streets in 1895.

Daniel M. Leffler grew to manhood in Leipsic and from his boyhood helped his father in the grocery store. He grew up as a grocer, and, in 1890, he and his brother, Charles H., became partners in the grocery business, succeeding their father, who had been in the business, and so diligently built up the grocery trade and who had conducted it for so many years. The two brothers have carried on the business as partners since that time.

Daniel M. Leffler was married in the spring of 1891, to Emma M. Pfis- ter, who was born about three and one-half miles west of Leipsic, and is the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Long) Pfister. Her parents were born in Switzerland and her father was a farmer near Leipsic. Mr. Pister was an old resident of Leipsic and died in 1890. His widow now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Leffler. Daniel M. and Emma M. (Pfister) Leffler have three children living and one dead: Ray V., born on February 28, 1892 ; Gladys, March 3, 1894, and died on January 12, 1899; Serge H., April 28, 1896, and Maxine H., August 7, 1905.

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Daniel M. Leffler takes an active interest in local public affairs and has served in various capacities, as a member of the board of education, the city council, and also as city treasurer. In all of these positions, he has acquitted himself as becomes one devoted to the cause of good American govern- ment. Mr. Leffler and family are members of the Lutheran church.

Charles H. Leffler, the brother of Daniel M., and his partner in the grocery business, was born on April 10, 1868, in Leipsic. He grew up in Leipsic and also helped his father in the store from his boyhood. In 1890, as heretofore mentioned, he and his brother, Daniel M., purchased his father's interest in the grocery store and succeeded him in this business.

Charles H. Leffler was married on September 22, 1909, to Rebecca Wentz, who was born in Findlay, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob A. and Elizabeth S. (Kanable) Wentz. Jacob A. Wentz was born and reared in Hartford City, Indiana, and was married at Bucyrus, Ohio, to Elizabeth S. Kanable. She was a native of Springfield, but was reared in Bucyrus. After their marriage, they resided in Hartford City, Indiana, for about ten years on a farm, when they moved to Cass township, north of Findlay, where Mrs. Leffler was born. Her parents still reside there. On the fifth anni- versary of the marriage of Charles H. Leffler and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wentz celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Charles H. Leffler and wife have one daughter, Elizabeth Lavina. Mr. Leffler and family also belong to the Lutheran church and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

ELLIOTT CLARK.

The late Elliott Clark spent his whole life in Putnam county, Ohio. Born and reared in this county, he lived here more than seventy-four years, during which long period he was actively identified with the various phases of his county's development. He was a man of integrity and honor, highly esteemed by those who knew him, and a man whose word was as good as his bond. He was a lifelong farmer and, although primarily interested in his own advancement and the care of his family, he never neglected the duties he owed to the community as a public-spirited citizen. In his passing, the county lost one of its sterling pioneers and a man whose span of life practi- cally covered the history of the county from its earliest beginning.

The late Elliott Clark was born on March 16, 1839, in Ottawa town-

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ship, Putnam county, Ohio, and died at his home in Leipsic, October 21, 1913. He was a son of William and Harriett (Woods) Clark. His father was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was born on Sep- tember 1, 1812, a son of Samuel and Margaret Clark, also natives of Penn- sylvania.

Samuel Clark was a blacksmith by trade and was employed to construct the ironwork on Perry's flagship, the "Lawrence," which won the memorable battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. It was this famous victory which caused the captain to send the message, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," to the President. Before Samuel Clark's work on the flagship was completed, the contract for services had expired, but so anxious was Captain Perry to have the work finished that he gave Mr. Clark double pay until the flagship was ready to launch. Samuel Clark came from Pennsylvania to Wayne county, Ohio, and later removed to Putnam county, locating in this county about 1831. He entered land in Ottawa township, about three miles southwest of the present city of Leipsic. About two years later, William Clark, the son of Samuel, came with his wife, Harriett, and two small chil- dren, to Putnam county, where, like his father, he entered government land. Thus it is seen that the Clark family has been identified with the history of Putnam county from its earliest beginning. They started in to make homes for themselves in the wilderness and endured all of the struggles and priva- tions incident to pioneer life in a new country. William Clark prospered and at one time was rated as one of the largest landholders of the county.

William Clark was twice married. First to Harriet Woods, and to this union nine children were born, one of whom died in infancy. His first wife died in 1855, and he later married Lois Edgecomb, whose parents came from Maine to Putnam county, and to this second marriage three children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The second wife of William Clark died in 1896, Mr. Clark himself passing away in 1877.

Elliott Clark was born in Ottawa township, and when a small child moved with his parents to Blanchard township on the present site of Pleasant Grove. It was here that young Elliott grew to manhood and attended the neighboring log cabin school houses. When about twenty years of age, he made a trip to Illinois, which was then considered the far West. He worked in that state for a man who owned a large tract of land on the shore of Lake Michigan, part of which is now covered by the city of Chicago. When young Elliott grew homesick and wanted to return home, his employer who had grown to like him, offered as a reward for staying with him, a tract of land

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for a trifling sum. This particular tract of land he might have had for the asking, later became the site of the great city of Chicago.

After his return home from Illinois, Elliott Clark was married at the age of twenty-one, June 6, 1860, to Julia Ann Payne, a daughter of George Payne and wife, who were pioneers of Putnam county, and to this union were born two children, Laroma and William Cortez. Laroma married Abraham Zimmerman, now deceased, and has one daughter, Mabelle. Will- iam C., who is deceased. married Susie Little, and the four children born to this union all died in infancy.

Elliott Clark was married the second time on January 24, 1878, to Susan A. Leffler, a daughter of Solomon and Christina ( Weidner) Leffler, and to this second union were born two children, Alura and Charles, who died in infancy. Alura was married to John Welburn Guisbert, who died on April 6, 1905, leaving his widow with one daughter, Florence Clark. Mr. Guisbert was a son of Samuel and Emma D. (Meyers) Guisbert. pioneer settlers of Seneca county, Ohio. John W. Guisbert came to Leipsic and established the leading store and while here he met and married Alura Clark. After his death, the business was sold to Albert Wise.

Solomon Leffler, the father of Mr. Clark's second wife, was born on February 8, 1808. in Shelby county, Ohio, and died on February 25, 1897. His wife, Christina Weidner, was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, on May 19, 1815, and came with her parents to America, at the age of sixteen, to avoid being forced into a marriage with her cousin. Mr. Leffler and his wife were the parents of sixteen children, two of whom died in infancy.

MRS. JEAN P. VALE.

A woman of unusual accomplishments is Mrs. Jean P. Vale, the editor and manager of the Ottawa Gazette. Born and reared in Ottawa, of ex- cellent parentage, she graduated from the local high school and then began the teaching of school and music. She began when a young girl to take music and has been interested in music all of her life. After her marriage to a newspaper man, she lived in various parts of the United States for seven years, going with her husband in search of his health. He was a news- paper man and his work took him to the daily papers in large cities, and in this way Mrs. Vale became interested in newspaper work. After her hus-

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band's death, in 1902, she became interested in the establishment of libraries for one of the large book companies of Toledo, Ohio, and here demonstrated wonderful capacity for work. She was determined to give her daughter a dramatic education, and with this end in view, made almost superhuman efforts to maintain her daughter in a school in New York City. She has. the satisfaction of knowing that her daughter graduated with distinction and has filled an important place in the theatrical world. For the past few years Mrs. Vale has been the editor and general manager of the Ottawa Gazette, and in addition to the general editorial management of this paper,. she does an immense amount of work on the outside. In fact, she is a woman whose versatility is indeed remarkable, and this brief review can but. memorize her achievements.

Mrs. Jean P. Vale was born in Ottawa, Ohio, in the hotel which was- then owned by her parents. She is a daughter of Day and Elizabeth (Davis) Pugh. Her father was a native of West Virginia, and of Welsh and Scot- tish ancestry on both his father's and mother's side. He was a lawyer and practiced his profession at Ottawa for nearly twenty years. Elizabeth Davis- was a native of Pennsylvania and survived her husband several years in Ottawa.

Mrs. Jean P. Vale was reared in Ottawa and graduated from the local' high school in 1880, when Professor DeFord was superintendent. Early in her childhood days, her parents began to give her music lessons, and after she. graduated from the high school, she began to teach music at Leipsic and at Belmore, and also taught in the public schools of West Leipsic for two. years.

Jean P. Pugh was married on July 6, 1884, to Edmond L. Vale, and for seven years after their marriage, lived in various parts of the United States. Her husband was in poor health, and in addition to seeking news- paper work in large cities, was also looking for a more salubrious climate in which to live. It was while working with her husband that Mrs. Vale first became interested in newspaper work. After seven years of traveling over the United States, Mr. and Mrs. Vale located at Columbus Grove, in Put- nam county, Ohio, where Mr. Vale bought the Putnam County Vidette, and operated that paper for about nine years. He was appointed postmaster of Columbus Grove in 1897, and held that position until his death in Novem- ber, 1902. He died very suddenly, being sick only about six hours before his death. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen and several other fraternal orders. After

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his death, Mrs. Vale continued to manage the postoffice, until a successor could be appointed.

Mrs. Jean P. Vale was left with one daughter, Helene, and it was her dearest ambition to give her daughter a good education. With this end in view she leased the newspaper, which her husband had been managing, and went to New York City with her daughter to give her a dramatic education. She placed her daughter in the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York and expected to get work of some kind in the city in order to support herself and daughter while the latter was finishing her education. She had expected to get employment in a music or art store, but could not find just what she wanted. However, she was determined to succeed, and it was not until after the holidays that she found a place to work. It was not even office work, but it offered her steady employment at a fair wage. She found a place where she could make patterns in a pattern factory and in this way secured enough money to maintain herself and daughter until the latter com- pleted her course.

After her daughter graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City, Mrs. Vale returned to Columbus Grove and managed the l'idette for about a year and a half, at which time she sold the paper to Frank Ward, and went to Toledo, and took a position with Brown, Eager & Hall, the largest book concern of that city. At the time she took this posi- tion her daughter was in a hospital and required the attendance of nurses day and night, and it was the direst necessity which spurred the mother to find something to do in order to take care of her daughter. The position which she accepted with the book company had been considered exclusively a man's field, and she was the first woman the company had ever placed on the road. She secured the position by answering an advertisement for a man, and, in fact, before she secured this position, she answered at least a hundred ad- vertisements asking for men. This position necessitated her traveling throughout the country, establishing libraries, and when on the road she frequently walked as far as four miles into the country to see members of committees with whom she had to deal. After spending three and one-half months on the road for this company, they offered her a position in the store at Toledo, where she was given charge of one of the book departments. She remained six months longer with this company and then returned to Put- nam county, and entered the office of the Ottawa Gazette, and has been connected with this newspaper ever since. A few years ago, the paper was sold to a stock company, and the directors placed Mrs. Vale in complete

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charge of the paper, and since that time she has acted both as editor and manager.

In addition to editorial duties on this paper, she is correspondent for ten newspapers and writes club papers for a clientage extending throughout Ohio and into many neighboring states. She writes addresses of welcome, formal addresses and papers on all sorts of topics requiring research work. In addition to her manifold duties as a newspaper writer, she has also taught instrumental, as well as vocal music. She is an accomplished vocalist and has a contralto voice with a range of more than two octaves, ranging from E-flat below middle C to F above. She has sung for several years in choirs and quartettes from Iowa to Ohio. She has written much verse which has been put to music, and among other songs has written a love song, entitled, "Surrender Your Heart to Me," a song which she composed so uncon- sciously that she at first thought she had probably heard it elsewhere. Versification comes very easily to her and much of her poetry has real literary merit. Limericks, songs, sonnets and beautiful sentiments for post- cards flow from her fluent pen with little effort. She has a facility of ex- pression which gives a poetic charm to that which others would pass by as commonplace.

Mrs. Jean P. Vale is an incessant worker, and has little use for the idler in life. When she was teaching music, she taught all day steadily and allowed herself eighteen minutes for dinner, and after spending a similar length of time at the supper table, she continued teaching in the evening. She has accomplished so much because she has worked for it. Much of her hard work in her earlier years was inspired by the promptings of necessity, and by the desire on her part to give her daughter a good education. Al- though Mrs. Vale has shown the ability to do a man's work, yet she is neither masculine in looks nor manner, but maintains her distinctive womanly charm.

This brief resume of Mrs. Vale's life cannot be dismissed without say- ing something concerning her accomplished daughter. Helene is a beautiful girl of marked theatrical ability. She has spent several years on the stage, although she is at the present time engaged in giving readings. She started out as a member of the Military Octette, in the Laskey-Rolfe production, and was with this company for several years. Later, she played with a stock company in Toledo and Brooklyn. For some time she was on the Keith vaudeville circuit and made the larger cities of the East and Middle West.

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FRANK GIESKEN.

The student interested in the history of Putnam county does not have to carry his investigations far into its annals before learning that Frank Giesken has long been one of its leading citizens in agriculture, stock raising and business, and that his labors have been a potent force in making this a rich, agricultural region. For several decades he has carried on general farming, gradually improving much valuable land which he owns, and, while Mr. Giesken has prospered, he has also found the time, opportunity and inclination to assist in the material and civic development of Putnam county ..

Frank Giesken was born on December 26, 1860, in the southeastern part of Greensburg township, where he now lives. He is the son of John and Clementine (Rieman) Giesken, the former born in Hanover, Germany, in 1805. John Giesken came to America in 1835 and worked two months. in Buffalo, after which he came to Toledo and there cut cord wood on the site of what is now Summer street. It was then covered with timber. Mr. Giesken could have purchased the land for two dollars and fifty cents an acre at that time, but decided to come on to Glandorf, Putnam county, which was as good a town or better than Toledo. After one winter in Toledo, he came on to Glandorf in the spring of 1836, walking from Toledo. In Putnam county he purchased eighty acres in the southeast part of Greensburg town- ship. All of this land was covered with timber and Mr. Giesken passed through the toil and hardships necessary to the pioneer life of this community. Here he made his permanent home and in time purchased eighty acres more. He was a life-long farmer. He married Clementine Rieman, who was born in Oldenburg, Germany in 1819, and came to America in 1830 with her parents. They landed in Baltimore and traveled from Baltimore to Pitts- burgh with a four-mule team to haul their baggage. Clementine Rieman walked all the way from Baltimore to Pittsburgh with her parents. From Pittsburgh they came by boat to Cincinnati, where she lived until seventeen: years old, attending school there. From Cincinnati the family moved to Putnam county on foot, from which place it required a week to walk to Glandorf, and after arriving in Putnam county, the family located along the west line of Ottawa township, where her parents made their permanent home.

Frank Giesken is one of five sons and five daughters born to his parents, John, deceased, who made his home in Missouri; Elizabeth, the widow of Joseph Lemkuhle, of Kalida; Clara, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Frede and lived in Missouri; Henry, of Monterey township; Mary, who

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died at the age of two and one-half years; Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Frede and lived in Missouri; Clementine, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Eickholt and lived in Missouri; Joseph, deceased, who lived in Monterey township; Frank, of Greensburg township; and Barney, of Shepherd, Michigan.

The father of these children died on June 29, 1892, and the mother followed him on December 17, 1905. The father was eighty-seven years old and the mother about the same age at the time of their deaths. She was well preserved and had her second eyesight at the time of her death. She was also able to use a needle. Both the father and mother were unusually well educated and especially well versed in the Bible. Both had wonderful memories.

Frank Giesken grew up on the home farm, and, in 1900, was married to Elizabeth Halker, who was born two miles south of Glandorf on a farm. She is the daughter of William and Louisa (Vogeding) Halker, whose family history is given in connection with that of Mrs. Giesken's brother, George Halker. To Mr. and Mrs. Giesken, eight children have been born, Anna, who died at the age of sixteen months, Mary, Veronica, Frances, Harry, Lawrence, Clara and Leo.

Since his marriage, Mr. Giesken has farmed the home farm where he was born. He has purchased more land and now has three hundred and fifty-six acres and has lately bought fifty-eight acres in addition, making a total of four hundred and fourteen acres. He has remodeled his house and barn and has one of the finest farms in Putnam county. The house is heated with hot water and is modern throughout. Mr. Giesken has also built fine large barns and has a splendid farm in every respect. He has made a specialty of registered Percheron horses and makes a business of raising them for the market. He also raises pedigreed Shorthorn dairy cattle. Mr. Giesken has been raising thoroughbred horses for about eight years, but has just began to specialize in thoroughbred cattle. He has about fifteen head at the present time. He has had wonderful success with his horses, having sold several two and three-year-old colts for five and six hundred dollars apiece. His horses are better than some that have sold for more than two thousand dollars.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 87

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