USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 88
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For the past eight years, Mr. Giesken has been interested in the hard- ware business and is a member of the firm of Fisher & Giesken at Glandorf, who handle hardware of all kinds, building material, automobiles and farm implements. This firm does a large and flourishing business in Putnam county.
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Frank Giesken has taken an active interest in public affairs through- out his life. He has served as township trustee, as township assessor and was a member of the school board for seventeen years. He is now a member of the county school board and has held other appointive county offices. The Giesken family belong to the Catholic church at Glandorf and Mr. Giesken is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is well known as one of the leading and progressive farmers in Putnam county and stands high in the estimation of the people of this county, a standing which he richly deserves for his many good works and high-minded ideals of American citizenship.
JULIAN KEMPF
The stability and prosperity of any community is determined largely by the character of the business men in whose hands the life of the com- munity, to a great extent, lies. This responsibility rests even more heavily on the younger business men, for on them depends the future prosperity of the community, and it is their integrity and energy which will determine the standard of citizenship which the community is to maintain. In this respect, Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, is indeed fortunate in numbering among its younger and rising business men many whose integrity cannot be questioned and whose energy and business enterprise is being daily dem- onstrated. Of these the subject of this sketch, Julian Kempf, is an excel- lent example.
Julian Kempf was born on March 20, 1883, in Pandora, Riley town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, a son of Rudolph and Anna (Wehrley) Kempf. Rudolph Kempf was born in Berne, Switzerland, April 9, 1852, and died in Pandora, Putnam county, August 21, 1914. He was a son of Christian and Mary Kempf.
Christian Kempf, about whom little is known, operated a tile mill in Switzerland. He and his wife were the parents of sixteen children, nine of whom were boys and seven girls.
Rudolph Kempf came to America in 1868, when he was twenty-one years of age. He came direct to Ripley township, Putnam county, where he remained for about three years. During that time he was employed on the farms of Daniel King and Isaac Hilty. He was then recalled to Switzer- land on account of his mother's death. Shortly afterward he returned to this country and again resumed farm work, in which he continued until the
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time of his marriage, October 2, 1881. He married Anna Wehrley, who was born in Riley township, Putnam county, in March, 1855, a daughter of Anthony and Catherine (Suter) Wehrley. Her father was a native of Switzerland and her mother was born in Riley township.
After his marriage, Rudolph Kempf entered the quarry business and conducted a stone quarry, which had formerly been known as the Hart stone quarry. He remained in that business for several years and then en- tered the mercantile business, at Pandora, in which business he remained for several years. When Julian Kempf was six or seven years of age, Ru- dolph Kempf engaged in the restaurant and meat business for about three years. For the next ten or twelve years he operated a dray line, and was. then appointed township road supervisor, which position he held until his death, about five years later.
Rudolph and Anna (Wehrley) Kempf were the parents of two chil- dren, Mary and Julian. Mary is now the wife of Noah Schumacher, and lives at Pandora. They are the parents of three children.
Julian Kempf spent his childhood and youth in Pandora, where he at- tended the common schools and the high school. After he had completed his studies, he began his business career by assuming charge of his father's. dray line, in which business he remained four years, or until August, 1904, when he entered the employment of the Pandora Milling Company.
His first duties with the milling company were of a minor character, but, as he proved his efficiency, he was given more responsible duties, and at the end of two years was put in charge of the company's accounts. At that time he was also made secretary of the company, a position which he still holds.
On January 4, 1904, he married Eva Frantz, of Gilboa, a daughter of William W. and Elizabeth (Hoskinson) Frantz. She was born at Gilboa, Ohio, October 15, 1882. She attended the public schools of Gilboa and re- mained with her parents until the time of her marriage. The details of her family history are given in the sketches of her brother, William Pratt Frantz, and Frantz Brothers, which appear elsewhere in this volume.
To Julian and Eva ( Frantz) Kempf have been born two children, Fran- cis, who was born on November 26, 1911; and Elizabeth, who was born on January 31, 1915. Mr. Kempf is a supporter of the Democratic party and has taken an active interest in the political affairs of his community. He has been twice elected town councilman, and was appointed clerk of the cor- poration to fill out an unexpired term, discharging the duties of the office- so satisfactorily that he was later elected to the office.
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Julian Kempf is a clean-cut and progressive young business man of unquestioned integrity. He is junior member of the firm of Steiner, Hilty & Kempf, who operate the Pandora Milling Company, a position into which he gradually worked himself by keen and efficient business ability. He is popular with all who know him and is a prominent member of his com- munity.
FRED A. HERMILLER.
Among the representative farmers of Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, there is none who occupies a more highly respected position than Fred A. Hermiller, a young fariner of this township. As a self-made man, he stands as a shining example of what may be accomplished by hard, conscientious work and strict attention to business. The farmers of this country have always been the bone and sinew of the land and they will con- tinue to be so for many generations to come. Mr. Hermiller is one of those young men who has appreciated the present-day opportunities of the farmer and he is devoting his life assiduously to his chosen profession and business. He is a young man who believes strongly in public improvements, also be- lieves in maintaining his farm in a good state of cultivation, and has made an unusual success for the comparatively short time he has been engaged in farming.
Fred A. Hermiller was born in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, January 16, 1892. He is the son of William and Philomena (Recker) Her- miller. William Hermiller was born in January, 1858, in Ottawa township, and died on November 24, 1910. He was reared as a farmer and educated in the Ottawa township schools. He remained on his father's farm until his marriage to Philomena Recker. After his marriage, he moved to Union township, where he had purchased eighty acres of land. Subsequently, he added to this farm until he had over four hundred acres, or about four hun- dred and twenty-five acres, at the time of his death. Throughout his life, he was a hard worker. He cleared a good portion of his land and farm until his death. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Philomena Recker, was also a native of Ottawa township. Her parents were Henry Recker and wife, natives of Germany, who settled in Ottawa township, Putnam county, in pioneer times. They underwent the privations of pioneer life and of home-building in the wilderness. They were accustomed to the howl of wolves and the yells of the Indians. Mrs. Philomena Hermiller survived
MR. AND MRS. FRED A. HERMILLER.
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her husband and lives on the homestead in Union township. She had been an excellent mother and a hard worker all of her life. She has played her part in building up the family fortune and in rearing her children. Having assisted nobly in this work, she now enjoys the satisfaction of knowing that her children are well provided for.
William and Philomena Recker had eight children, Benjamin, Louis, Fred, the subject of this sketch, William, Herman, Mary, John and Denia. The last five named live on the home farm in Union township. Benjamin, who is a farmer in Union township, married Elizabeth Verhoff and has one daughter, Marcella; Louis, who is a farmer in Palmer township, married Mary Hannaman, and has one daughter, Marcella. William Hermiller was a Democrat but never held office. He was a member of the Catholic church at Glandorf, where all the members of the Hermiller family are identified.
Fred A. Hermiller was educated in the Union township public schools. He remained on his father's farm until his marriage, after which time he moved to his present farm in Greensburg township. He purchased seventy- eight acres from his father's estate and most of the buildings were erected on the farm when he came to it. He has made many additional improve- ments, and keeps the farm under a fair state of cultivation. Mr. Hermiller purchased the farm in August, 1914, and was married in the spring of the same year.
Fred A. Hermiller was married on June 2, 1914, to Amalia Hannaman, who was born in Union township, Putnam county, September 12, 1893. She is the daughter of Barney and Anna ( Rolfes) Hannaman. Barney Hanna- man was born in Glandorf, Germany, and came to America, with a colony, at the age of eighteen years, to escape the army services in Germany. He settled in Ottawa township, Putnam county, which at that time was heavily timbered. He played his part in building up the settlement in this township. He worked on a farm until his marriage and afterward bought a farm in Union township, consisting of forty acres. He farmed this and added to it until he had accumulated one hundred and ninety-five acres. He still lives on this farm. Mrs. Anna Hannaman was born in Germany and came to America alone when about twenty-two years old. She was educated in Ger- many. She settled in Ottawa township, Putnam county, near Glandorf, where she was married. She is still living on the homestead farm in Union township. Barney and Anna Hannaman reared a family of six children, Mrs. Henry Jerwers, of Union township; Frank, who lives on the home farm; Milea, the wife of Mr. Hermiller; Mrs. Louis Hermiller, of Palmer
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township; Clementine and Joseph, who live at home. The Hannaman fam- ily are all members of the Catholic church at Glandorf. Mr. Hannaman is a Democrat.
Fred A. Hermiller is not a member of any lodge and has held no offices. He is identified with the Democratic party, and together with his wife, are members of the St. Nicholas Catholic church at Miller City. They have 110 children. Mrs. Hermiller was educated in the township schools of Union township and lived on her father's farm until she was married. Fred A. Hermiller is a congenial, industrious farmer, well-liked and possessed of a sterling character. He is favorably known in this community and comes of old pioneer stock.
WILLIAM F. VERHOFF.
The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this article, con- tains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purposes, which, carried to successful issue, have won for him an influential place in business circles and high personal standing among his fellow citizens. His life work has been of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has ever followed have resulted not only in gaining the confidence of those with whom he has had dealings, but also in the building up of a farming estate of fair proportions.
William F. Verhoff is the son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Egbers) Verhoff and was born on August 22, 1866, in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio. The father was born on June 17, 1838, and is the son of Francis and Mary (Kramer) Verhoff, early settlers in Putnam county, Ohio, a complete sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this biographical work.
The subject of this review was reared under the parental roof and se- cured his education in the schools of Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio. Upon attaining mature years he decided to continue farming, and, on April 22, 1891, was married to Agnes Lemper, born on November 19, 1866, daughter of William J. Lemper and wife. Mrs. Verhoff's parents were natives of Germany, leaving there in 1867, emigrating to this country! and settling on a farm four miles west of the town of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio. To them were born five children, Theresia, Clara, William, Agnes and Mary. Clara was married to William H. Edelbrook and now resides on a farm one and one-half miles south of the town of Kalida, Ohio; William was married to Helena Wortman, who is now living in Saginaw,
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Michigan ; Mary Leper was married to Barney Verhoff and resides in Greens- burg township, Putnam county, Ohio.
After the marriage of Agnes Lemper to William F. Verhoff, they re- moved to the farm which formerly belonged to her father, William Lemper, and to them were born seven children, names and birth dates as follow : Ben, on March 9, 1892; Joseph, on December 29, 1893; Adela, on October 18, 1895; Martha, on April 12, 1899; George, on June 23, 1903; Amanda, on July 7, 1907; Agnes, on September 27, 1914. Of these children, Ben was married on October 29, 1913, to Theresa Rahrig, daughter of Frank Rahrig and wife, who reside six miles south of the town of Grafton, Lorain county, Ohio.
William F. Verhoff is the owner of one hundred sixty acres of good farm land, in Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, and, with his wife, has made this place their home for the past eight years. Desiring to gain a little more farming land for special purposes he recently acquired a tract consisting of eighty acres near the town of Owosso, Michigan. The son, Ben, and wife make their home on a farm near Owosso, and are fol- lowing out the example of thrift and industry set for them. Thus far, the life of Ben Verhoff has been one of strenuous activity and by reason of his ambition it is predicted by his many friends that he will occupy a place of great usefulness and distinction at no late date in the future. The entire family are devout and practical members of St. John's Catholic church in Glandorf, Ohio, and socially move in the very best circles of this region.
HENRY HILTY.
The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens, and yields its tribute of admiration and respect to those whose words and actions constitute the record of a state's prosperity and pride. Among the prominent citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, who are well known because of the part they have taken in the com- munity life, as well as the fact that they come from an old and honored family, is Henry Hilty, a prominent farmer and stockman of Riley town- ship.
Henry Hilty was born on April 19, 1868, in Riley township, Putnam
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county, Ohio. He is a son of Isaac and Annie (Blosser) Hilty, whose fam- ily history may be found in the life story of Isaac Hilty, contained else- where in this volume.
Henry Hilty was born. on the old Hilty homestead northwest of Pan- dora, and here he spent his childhood, attending the common schools of Pandora. After finishing school he continued to assist his father on the farm and in the saw-mill until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time he was married. After his marriage he started farming for himself, one and one-half miles north of Pandora, where he rented the Abraham Lichty farm. Here he remained for two years and then removed to a farm two miles southeast of Columbus Grove. This farm was owned by Theo- dore Kuneke, and here Mr. Hilty remained three years. He then moved to the old homestead farm and operated his father's stone quarry for four years. Subsequently, Mr. Hilty purchased a farm of his own, comprising one hundred acres, located two miles northwest of Pandora. This farm is well improved, has a modern, ten-room residence, large and commodious, and other outbuildings in keeping with the large and imposing house. Mr. Hilty has always been a general farmer, but he has made a specialty of the raising and breeding of Percheron horses and Shorthorn cattle. He received the first prize for a yearling Percheron stallion at the county fair in 1913.
Henry Hilty was married on November 17, 1891, to Sarah Ann Zim- merman, who was born one and one-half miles east of Pandora, January. I, 1868. She is a daughter of Jacob and Fannie ( Amstutz) Zimmerman. Mrs. Hilty spent her childhood and youth with her parents, with whom she remained until the time of her marriage.
Mrs. Hilty's father, Jacob Zimmerman, was born in Fulton county, Ohio, January 8, 1844, and died at Pandora, July 17, 1912. He was a son of John and Fannie Zimmerman, both natives of Switzerland. They had four children before coming to America, a fifth child dying on the voyage across the Atlantic. They came direct to Fulton county, Ohio, where John Zimmerman probably entered government land, and after the children grew to maturity they removed to Henry county, Ohio, where Mrs. Zimmerman died, and Mr. Zimmerman was married a second time, to a Miss Schwartz, and to this union there were five daughters and five sons born, one of whom was Jacob Zimmerman, the father of Mrs. Hilty. Jacob Zimmerman was reared in Fulton county and came to Putnam county as a young man, where he was married to Barbara Amstutz, a daughter of Christian Amstutz and wife, and to this union one child was born, Christian. After the birth of this child Mrs. Zimmerman died, and Jacob Zimmerman then returned to
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Fulton county, where he remained for about one year. Subsequently he re- turned to Putnam county and married Fannie Amstutz, a niece of his first wife, and a daughter of John and Annie Amstutz, and to this union eleven children were born, five sons and six daughters. Sarah Ann, the eldest child, is now the wife of Henry Hilty. Among the other children were Menno, Emil, Noah, Ella, Edwin, Jacob, Levina, Fannie and Ezra.
Jacob Zimmerman was a farmer by occupation, and after his second marriage remained in Putnam county until his fourth child was born, when he removed to Henry county, where he operated a farm for ten years. He then returned to Riley township, Putnam county, and for six years lived on a farm one mile west of Pandora, after which he removed to a farmi one and one-half miles southeast of Pandora, where he lived for four years. After this he moved to Pandora, where he engaged in the livery business and in teaming. He died suddenly on July 17, 1912.
To Henry and Sarah Ann (Zimmerman) Hilty three children have been born: Melvin, on January 30, 1893 : Lester, November 13, 1897, died on March 21, 1908; Gladys Elizabeth, August 3, 1905.
Henry Hilty is independent in politics, and believes in supporting meas- ures and men rather than parties. He, with his wife, is a member of the Missionary church, in which they are both active. Mr. Hilty is a clean-cut and progressive farmer. He is a man who is well known in Riley township, a man of splendid character, of untiring energy and of broad-minded, lib- eral views in all respects.
ISAAC HILTY.
The biographies of representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their family and of the community. It is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men in the ranks of whom may be found farmers, mechanics, teachers, lawyers, physicians, bankers and men of other professions and vocations. Isaac Hilty is distinctly one of the leading citizens of Putnam county, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellow men. He has earned a reputation for enterprise, integrity and honor that entitles him to worthy notice in a work of the nature of this volume.
Isaac Hilty was born in Richland township, Allen county, Ohio, on May 19, 1843, the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Neuenschwander) Hilty.
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Peter Hilty was born in Switzerland, September 8, 1821, the son of Peter Hilty, Sr., and wife, the latter's maiden name being Lugibihl.
Peter Hilty, Sr., came to America in 1826, with his wife and five chil- dren. These children were John, Barbara, Peter, Catherine and Christian. On the voyage to America his wife died. Peter Hilty, Sr., came direct to Ohio and settled near Dalton, in Wayne county. Peter, Jr., was taken by the Lugibihl family to be cared for. They lived in Holmes county, near Winesburgh, and it was with this family that he lived until he reached manhood. Peter Hilty, Jr., came with the Lugibihl family to Putnam county in 1837. He was sixteen years old at this time, and continued to live with the Lugibihl family until he was married.
Peter Hilty, Sr., worked on the Ohio & Erie canal, which was then being built in eastern Ohio. Little is known of his life, after coming to America, except that he owned a farm of eighty acres in Richland township, Allen county, and that he spent his declining years with his son, Peter, Jr., in Richland township. He died there in 1868 at a ripe old age, probably seventy-seven years of age.
At the age of twenty, Peter Hilty, Jr., was married to Elizabeth Neuen- schwander, in the spring of 1841. She came to America with her parents when she was five years old. She was a native of Switzerland, and her people came to America, settling in Wayne county, in 1824. They later moved to Allen county, where they owned a farm of eighty acres. Peter Hilty, Jr., after his marriage, purchased a farm in Richland township, Allen county, and cleared and improved it. He was a hard-working farmer, and in addition to general farming, he raised truck, such as potatoes and melons, for the Lima market. When he died, on April 8, 1892, he owned one hun- dred and twenty acres of land. In addition to this, he helped his children to get a start in the world, rendering them considerable financial assistance. He was a man of splendid character and a devoted member of the Men- nonite church, of which his wife was also a member. Peter and Elizabeth Hilty had eleven children: Isaac, the subject of this sketch; John S .; Bar- bara ; Catherine; Benjamin; Noah: Susan, who died in infancy; Mary, de- ceased ; Peter B .; Samuel and Elizabeth, deceased. Isaac Hilty was the eldest child and his childhood and youth were spent on the old homestead in Rich- land township. Here he received his early education and helped his father on the home place until he was twenty-three years old.
Isaac Hilty was married on December 6, 1866, to Anna Blosser, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Basinger) Blosser. After his marriage he moved to the old Blosser homestead, which he rented from his wife's
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mother. This farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres he later pur- chased, and it is here that he still resides.
Henry Blosser was the son of Henry and Magdalena (Shank) Blosser, who were natives of Virginia. Henry Blosser, Jr., was also a native of Vir- ginia and came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1837. He was a blacksmith by trade, and a mechanical genius. He was county surveyor of Putnam county for several years, and also did a great deal of surveying for private parties. He made all of his implements, including his compass, the needle of which he charged with a lodestone found by his father in the Blue Ridge moun- tains of Virginia. Mr. Blosser finally devoted all of his time to farming, which occupation he followed until the time of his death, in 1863. His wife was a daughter of Christian and Fannie (Schuhmacher ) Basinger, both na- tives of Switzerland, and who came to America in an early day. Christian Basinger first came to Virginia, landing at Alexandria, and went to live with the Blossers. who were rather wealthy for those days. It seems they had an extra farm, which was run down, and on this place they put young Christian in charge. He succeeded so well, in a few years, that when he settled with the proprietors, he received enough money to come to Ohio and start in for himself. He came first to Columbiana county, and, a short time later, removed to Putnam county, where he entered land from the govern- ment.
After his marriage, Isaac Hilty became interested in the threshing busi- ness, which he followed successfully for about twenty years. He also oper- ated a stone quarry for several years, and for a period of eighteen or twenty years he operated a saw-mill. All of this business he carried on in addition to his operation of the farm. He has been a successful farmer and has al- ways done general farming and stock raising.
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