History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 94

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 94

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The grandparents of Mr. Annesser were Michael and Mary (Sholl) Annesser, both natives of Alsace-Lorraine, who were reared and who married in their native country. They came to the United States in 1830, and first located at Hagerstown, Maryland. Three years later they came to Seneca county, Ohio, which was their home until 1844, when they removed to Auglaize county. Michael Annesser was a tailor in Germany, but became a farmer, after arriving in the United States. He died about 1874, and his wife ten years later. They were the parents of seven children, John; Joseph ; Michael, deceased; William; Margaret, the wife of V. Blume; Mary, deceased, and Veronica. John and Joseph served in the Civil War, Joseph in the Fifty-

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seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and John in an Ohio regiment. William Annesser was born July 8, 1834, and was married to Mary M. Fisher on October 8, 1855.

Francis X. Annesser spent his boyhood days with his father on the home- stead farm and learned the milling trade with his father at the Ottawa mill. He was educated in the township schools of Auglaize county and the Wapa- koneta high school. While in the milling business with his father at Ottawa,. he became interested in the Columbus Grove mill, which he purchased in 1907. He moved his family to Columbus Grove in 1908, and is now active in the operation of the Columbus Grove mill. He has one of the best mills in Put- nam county. Mr. Annesser started in the milling business at the age of eighteen years. He is one of the most successful millers in Ohio and knows his business thoroughly.

Francis X. Annesser was married on June 12, 1888, to Margaret S. Ault, a native of Ottawa, Ohio, and the daughter of William and Pauline (Zink) Ault. Francis X. and Margaret S. (Ault) Annesser have two children, Pauline and Elizabeth, both of whom are at home.

Francis X. Annesser is a Democrat and has always taken an active inter- est in his party's cause. He is a member of St. Anthony's Catholic church at Columbus Grove, as well as his family, all of whom are active in church work. Mr. Annesser is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio. He is an active man and takes pride in his mill. He is well known and widely admired, especially by his patrons, who have learned to honor and respect him. He- has quite a reputation in Putnam county for honesty and square dealing, which accounts, in a great measure, for his large and growing business.

RALPH P. KILLEN, D. D. S.

Ralph Parlet Killen, D. D. S., an efficient and successful dentist of Col- umbus Grove, is a native of Putnam county, Ohio. Doctor Killen, although in the prime of life, has achieved a success which comes to few men of his years. While it is not easy to discover and define the hidden forces which move a life to ceaseless activity and large professional success, Doctor Killen's well-defined purpose, professional training and intellectual discipline contrib- ute, in a large measure, to explain his splendid success as a dentist.

Ralph Parlet Killen, the subject, was born on November 27, 1874, at. Columbus Grove, Ohio. He is a son of Norris and Mary (Van Meter),

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Killen. Norris Killen was born on May 28, 1838, in Richland county, Ohio, and he, in turn, was a son of John and Rebecca ( Alberts) Killen.

John Killen was a blacksmith by trade and on coming to Putnam county, Ohio, located at Pandora, where he conducted a blacksmith shop for two years. He sold out his shop, at the latter place, after which he came to Columbus Grove, where he engaged in the same business, continuing at his trade as a blacksmith until his death, in 1848. He was considered a skilled workman, enjoyed a prosperous business, and won many friends by his fair- ness, frankness and honesty. His wife, who was Rebecca Alberts, was born in 1805, and died on December 25, 1892, at the age of eighty-seven.

Norris Killen, the father of Doctor Killen, spent his entire life at Colum- bus Grove. He was engaged in the buying and selling of timber for many years, and was highly successful. He operated a saw-mill at Columbus Grove, .but sold the mill and engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued successfully for several years. From hardware he turned his attention to the shoe business at Columbus Grove, and was engaged in this for six years, selling out at the end of that time and retiring from active business life. Nor- ris Killen was a quiet, unassuming, but keen business man, and a friend to all, especially to his close neighbors and to his children. He was a kind and loving father and a booster for all civic improvements. Norris Killen en- listed for service in the Union army in Company I. Eighty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but did not see active service, since he was detailed to guard prisoners at Columbus, Ohio. His regiment was known as the "Bloody Eighty-eighth." He enlisted as a private at Columbus Grove for a period of three years, but, through his efficient record, was promoted to second lieutenant before leaving the service. He was discharged in 1865 at Colum- bus, Ohio. He was a charter member of Lodge No. 309, Free and Accepted Masons, of Columbus Grove, Ohio. Norris Killen and wife were the par- ents of five children : Mrs. Alfred R. Willis, of London, Kentucky; Mrs. Carl M. Wells, of Ada, Ohio; True, of Lima, Ohio; Guy B., a resident of Wyom- ing, and R. P. Killen, D. D. S., with whom this narrative deals. Norris Killen was also an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Lima, Ohio, where he now resides, and served as a member of the school board of Columbus Grove for several terms, as well as on the town ·council, where he gave efficient service. He was an active worker during his life in the ranks of the Republican party and considered himself a "stand- patter." His wife, who, before her marriage, was Mary Van Meter, died at Columbus Grove, September 16, 1908, at the age of seventy.

Ralph P. Killen spent his boyhood days at Columbus Grove, Ohio,

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where he received his early education, graduating from the Columbus Grove high school in 1894. Subsequently, he attended the Indiana Dental College, graduating from that institution with the class of 1897. Doctor Killen began the active practice of his profession at Lima, Ohio, where he remained for six months. He then came to Columbus Grove and established a place of busi- ness. He is still active and one of the leading dentists in Putnam county. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice and has a host of friends in Columbus Grove and vicinity. Hc is a genial man of excellent character and stands high in his community. He is a booster for all civic improvements and has been of much value to the town in which he lives.

Doctor Killen was married on July 26, 1898, to Edna R. Pease, the daughter of Monnie and Sarah F. (Thrapp) Peasc. One child has been born to this union, Florence, who is living at home with her parents.

Ralph P Killen, D. D. S., is a member of the Northwestern Ohio Dental Association, likewise the Ohio State and National Dental Associations. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Columbus Grove, and has passed through all the chairs of that order. He also served on the board of education for nine years, and was mayor of Columbus Grove between 1909 and 1913. He is an active Republican and is always to be found at the helm when he is most needed. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Doctor Killen has two interesting tax receipts in his possession which he values very highly. They were handed down by his father. One is dated 1837, is for ninety-nine cents, and is signed by Moses Lee, who was treasurer of Putnam county at that time. The other is dated 1844, for seven dollars and fifty-six cents, and is signed by C. M. Godfrey, then treasurer of Putnam county.

JAMES C. ROBINSON.

The year 1889 marked the beginning of the connection of James C. Robinson with the history of Putnam county, Ohio. In that year, he was married and located in Van Buren township, where he worked in a saw-mill, at Townwood, for a few years and then engaged in farming. For more than a score of years he has engaged in general farming and stock raising in Van Buren township, while, at the same time, he has taken an active part in the civic life of the community. He has served his fellow citizens in various capacities in an official way and has executed every trust which has been imposed upon him in a satisfactory manner.

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James C. Robinson, the son of William and Mary (Kahl) Robinson, was born near Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, October 28, 1861. His. father was born in Weller township, Richland county, Ohio, and was a son of Thomas and Jennie Robinson, natives of England. Thomas Robinson came to America in 1819, and located in Richland county, Ohio.

William Robinson was reared on his father's homestead in Weller town- ship, in Richland county, Ohio, and, after his marriage, bought a farm in Franklin township and lived there for about fifteen years. He then bought the old homestead, in Weller township, from the heirs and lived on this farm until his death, dying almost on the same spot where he was born. William Robinson was married, in 1855, to Mary Kahl, a daughter of Henry Kahl, and to this union ten children were born, Clara, who married Ira Q. Haver- field, and has three children, Vernot, who died in infancy; Ray, who died at the age of seven, and Mary; Florence, unmarried; Charles, who married Isabelle Pittinger, and has two daughters, Helen and Opal; James C., of Van Buren township; Frank, who married Nannie M. Davis; Jennie, deceased, who was the wife of M. H. Shively, and the mother of two boys, Tolo and Harry; Kate, the wife of Paul Rothlesberger; Ella, who married Walter McGuire, and has one son, Harold; George, who married Eliza Meyer, and has three children, Hester, Isabelle and Irene; Walter, who married Irene Pittinger, and has two sons, Roy and an infant. The father. of these chil- dren died on the old home place in Richland county in 1898, his wife having passed away during the winter of 1895.

James C. Robinson spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Rich- land county, Ohio, and attended the common schools of his home neighbor- hood. He went to Hancock county in 1883, where he worked on a farm until 1889, in which year he married and located at Townwood, Putnam county, where he worked for years in a saw-mill. He then began to farm for himself the tract of land where he is now living and has met with unusual success in his agricultural operations.

James C. Robinson was married in 1889, to Flora L. McClish, who was born in Hancock county, Ohio, June 16, 1864, and is a daughter of Noah Bishop and Louise McClish. Mr. Robinson and his wife are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living at home with the exception of William, who lives in Chicago, and Charles, who died at the age of two. The other five children are Nellie, Paul, James, Waldo and Olive.

James C. Robinson is a stanch Republican, has served in this township as trustee for five terms, and is now completing his tenth year in the office. He has also served on the school board of his township for a number of

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years. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Town- wood, and the encampment at Leipsic. Mr. Robinson is a wide-awake man and has taken an active part in the life of the community about him, and is deserving of a place among the representative men of his township and county.

JOHN M. CRAWFORD.

Distinct business qualifications, tangible religious conviction and an ele- ment of concentration, bring before the reader, in the panorama of the busi- ness life of Putnam county, a man, in every sense of the word, competent to advance the best interests of his environs and of his home. John M. Crawford is a fine example of the truth that because a boy is born under unfortunate circumstances, in meager surroundings, it is not necessary for him to become a failure in life. "Old Abe" Lincoln figured many of his mathematical problems on the back of an old shovel by the light of a grease candle light, and he became the benefactor of a great people. Here we find that the elements which entered into the making of a fine business man were the stepping-stones to an achievement that has doled out to an appreciative community many deeds for the advancement of not only his, but the inter- ests of others as well, where sound business judgment, practical common- sense and aggressiveness are the prime factors in the building of a county. Mindful of the needs of his fellow men, Mr. Crawford was well qualified to become a leader, not only in the financial, but also in the business, social and religious affairs of his community as well.

John M. Crawford was born in Delaware county, Ohio, on November 2, 1841, and was the son of Calvin C. and Elizabeth (Martin) Crawford, both of whom were natives of Marion county, Ohio. Calvin Crawford was born in 1818 and his wife in 1820. They were married in Marion county in 1839, and, after living a few years in Delaware county, they moved, in 1849, to Brown county, Illinois. Calvin Crawford died in Illinois in 1850. He and his wife were the parents of six children, and the young mother had the care and responsibility of this large family, but found great consolation in the aid and help of her son, John, who remained true to his post of duty in helping care for the family until about the age of twenty.

John M. Crawford was one of eight children: One son and a daughter who died in infancy; William H., who enlisted in the Tenth Ohio Cavalry and who died in St. Louis; Dewitt C., who was for many years a resident

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of Henry county and who died in September, 1910; Lawrence L., of Colo- rado; Mrs. Dorcas Martin, of Napoleon, and Mrs. Alletta Russell, of Lib- erty Center. The last three children were living at the time of John M. Crawford's death, May 22, 1911. At the time of his death Mr. Crawford was sixty-nine years, six months and twenty days old.

John M. Crawford was married on September 15, 1861, to Sarah A. Martin, the daughter of Rev. Wilson Martin. Four children were born to this marriage: William L., deceased; Minnie E., the wife of Mr. Light; Della E., who married E. E. Mclaughlin, of Denver, Colorado, and Wilson M., of Columbus Grove.

John M. Crawford spent his early married life in Henry county, where he cleared a farm of sixty-five acres, which was his first business undertak- ing. He later moved to Columbus Grove and lived there for the last thirty- nine years of his life. Mr. Crawford possessed business qualifications of a high order. His early training and close application to business, despite his meager education, eminently fitted him for a most successful business career. By close application and careful management, he became one of the most successful merchants and bankers of Putnam county. Mr. Crawford rented his farm in 1872 and removed to Columbus Grove, where he engaged in the dry goods business with Wilson Martin and Joseph Justice, under the firm name of W. Martin & Company. Six months later Mr. Martin withdrew and Messrs. Crawford and Justice continued the business for one year, when they traded the business to T. M. Day. Mr. Crawford then engaged in the grocery and bakery business in Columbus Grove and was in that for one year. He next engaged in the livery business for about three months, after which he entered the drug business, in which he continued for about ten years. He entered the hardware business in partnership with George Ar- nold in 1880, who was succeeded by John Light about nine months later. About a year and a half after this Mr. Light was succeeded by D. M. Foltz, and the firm of Crawford & Foltz continued for about seven years. At the expiration of this time, or in 1890, Mr. Crawford sold out to Mr. Foltz, and one month later he purchased the hardware stock of Norris Killen. Mr. Crawford was engaged in the saw-mill business with G. S. Gander, under the firm name of Crawford & Company, for seven years. This firm owned and operated mills at Columbus Grove, Ottawa, Avis and Pandora. In 1894, Mr. Crawford purchased an interest in the pine lumber business in Columbus Grove, the firm being Palmer & Crawford. In June, 1895, Mr. Crawford purchased the Columbus Grove machine shops, and on Septem-

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ber 7, 1895, he purchased an interest in the Exchange Bank of Columbus Grove, with W. Martin as vice-president.

At the age of thirty-six John M. Crawford became a member of the United Brethren church, under the pastorate of Reverend Eastman. He later became a member of the Methodist church, in which his wife was af- filiated. For many years he was a member of the official board of the Methodist church. He was wise in counsel and liberal in financial support. He was a constant reader, not only of church periodicals, but sermons of John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, Spurgeon, Bishop Simpson, L. A. Bants and Evangelist John McNeal. Perhaps no man in Columbus Grove spent more time in reading such literature during the latter years of his life than did Mr. Crawford. During the last five months of his life he was a con- stant sufferer, yet bore it without murmur or complaint.

WILLIAM A. BEUTLER.

In the history of Leipsic, Ohio, the name of William A. Beutler occu- pies a conspicuous place for veracity, integrity and thrift. During a number of years he has been the agent for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad in this town. Mr. Beutler is one of the city's progressive, enterprising and persevering citizens. Such qualities always win success sooner or later and to Mr. Beutler they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well-directed efforts. While he has benefited himself and the community, in a general way, he has also been an influential factor in the moral, educational and social progress of the community.

William A. Beutler was born on November 12, 1882, in Ottawa, Put- nam county, Ohio. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Fipp) Beutler, whose life histories are contained elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Beutler grew up in Ottawa and there spent his boyhood days. He received a good common school education and spent two years in the Ottawa high school. He quit school two years before graduating and began working for the Cin- cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad at Ottawa. He was first freight clerk and later a telegraph operator, at which latter position he worked for about seven and one-half years. From this position he was promoted to agent for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Company at Leipsic. Here he has been stationed for the past nine years, or since 1906. He is now station agent, freight agent and operator.

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William A. Beutler was married on September 28, 1904, to Martha Alte- krause, the daughter of William and Theresa ( Altekrause) Altekrause. To this union three children have been born, Wilfred, Louise and Karl. Mr. Beutler is a Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Ot- tawa and Catholic Knights of Ohio, of Leipsic, and has been president of this order for the past two years. Mr. Beutler is also a member of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, with which he has been identified for ten years. He and his wife and family are members of the St. Mary's Catholic church at Leipsic.

William A. Beutler is a booster for the town in which he lives, and, al- though his work confines him closely to his post of duty, he is known as a promoter of the public good. He is well-liked by the people of Leipsic and vicinity and has a most pleasing personality.

FRANK B. HERMILLER.

Some of the richest land in Putnam county, Ohio, at one time was so thoroughly covered with water and brush and appeared in such confusion that the land beneath seemed too poor to cultivate. Those who had the energy to clear and drain this land now possess some of the finest 'farms in Putnam county. Among the many prosperous and progressive farmers of this county who have acquired some of this land, which a generation ago looked hopeless, is Frank B. Hermiller.

Frank B. Hermiller was born on April 22, 1865, southeast of Ottawa, in Ottawa township. He is a son of Bernard and Bernardina (Nadler) Hermiller. Bernard Hermiller was born near Glandorf, in Hanover, Ger- many, and lived there until twenty-eight years of age. He came to America about 1850, locating first in Brooklyn, New York, where he was employed in a sugar refinery. He began working for thirty-eight cents a day, and thought this was good pay. He remained nine years at this one place, and when he left there, was receiving sixty cents a day. In New York he was married to Bernardina Nadler, a native of his home district, near Glandorf, Germany. He moved to Putnam county, Ohio, in the early sixties, and pur- chased one hundred and forty acres of land southwest of Ottawa. This land was all in woods, except five acres, and had only an old log house on it, in the way of improvements. The former occupant moved off the place to higher land north of Ottawa to escape the surface water on the land. This

MR. AND MRS. FRANK B. HERMILLER.

RESIDENCE OF FRANK B. HERMILLER.

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gave Mr. Hermiller fine land when it was cleared and drained. He after- ward purchased two other farms, one consisting of eighty and the other of one hundred acres. He farmed here the rest of his life, and died in June, 1884. His wife died at the age of eighty-three, November 10, 1910.

Frank B. Hermiller was one of seven children. He grew up on the home farm and, in April, 1890, was married to Mary Bloemer. She was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, and is a daughter of Bernard and Josephine (Kenkal) Bloemer.

Bernard Bloemer and his family, at that time, consisting of two chil- dren, Johanna and Mary, left Germany and came to America about forty- seven years ago and settled on a farm in Ottawa township, Putnam county, on a farm. They lived there for eight years and then moved to a farm which he purchased in Jennings township, consisting of one hundred and eighteen acres. He erected a number of splendid buildings. Five children were born to Bernard and Josephine (Kenkal) Bloemer in this county, and three were born in Germany, Johanna, who died in Germany; Mary, Johanna, Eliza- beth, Anna, Bernard, deceased; Christina, and Emma, deceased. Mr. Bloe- mer and wife lived on their farm until their death. He died on April 13, 1914. His wife died on January 12, 1915. They belonged to the Christian church at Ft. Jennings and were highly esteemed for their many fine quali- ties.

Frank B. Hermiller has farmed ever since his marriage in the locality where he was born and reared. He built a splendid brick residence on the Pandora road, southeast of Ottawa, overlooking the Blanchard river, in 1807. He is the owner of one hundred and sixty-eight acres of land, all in one body, also sixty-three acres near Miller City. His house is thoroughly modern, and is equipped with a private lighting plant, a furnace, and all other modern conveniences. It is also very well furnished.

Frank B. Hermiller and wife are the parents of four children, Edward, at home; Emma, the wife of Harry Kahle, lives in Ottawa, and is the mother of one daughter, Alice Rosemary; Frank, a student in the high school, and Mary Josephine, living at home.

Frank B. Hermiller and family are devout members of the Catholic church at Ottawa. Mr. Hermiller is a progressive farmer of an affable disposition, and is clear-minded and strong-hearted. He is one of those men who always knows just what he is going to do and how he is going to do it. He is methodical, precise, and exact in everything that he does, a man who has been able to translate brains into the business of farming. Mrs.

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Hermiller is a charming woman of gracious manner, kind and hospitable. She is very intelligent and has proved a loyal and helpful wife, who has contributed much to his success.

GEORGE I. BEST.

Among the comfortably situated retired farmers of Putnam county, few are better known, or more generally popular, than the genial George I. Best, of Columbus Grove, to a brief sketch of whose career the biographer here engages the attention of the reader of this comprehensive history of this county, a compilation which would not be complete without fitting reference to the gentleman whose name serves as the caption of this particular bit of biography.

George I. Best was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, May 4, 1847, the son of George and Hannah (Sneary) Best, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but who had lived in Ohio from the days of their childhood.

George Best, father of George I., came to Ohio from Pennsylvania with his parents when a lad and grew up in Tuscarawas county, where he received the benefits of the excellent schools of that county and where he learned, under his father's direction, the general principles of agriculture, his father having been a successful farmer of that county. He married in that county and, about the year 1851, when George I. was but three years old or thereabout, moved to Putnam county, settling in Union township, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, on which he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in the year 1865, when he was sixty-five years of age. George Best's wife, the mother of George I., who also was born in the Keystone state, became a resi- dent of Ohio at an early age, having moved with her parents to Tuscarawas county, when she was a little girl. There she grew to womanhood, enjoying the educational advantages of the district schools, and there she married George Best, whom she made a faithful and competent helpmate, and whom she sur- vived many years, her death not occurring until the year 1881.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 94

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