History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 43

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 43

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another part of this work will be found extend- ed mention of the pious zeal as well as the re- markable enterprise of Father Bredeick. Ile gave himself and all he possessed to the church. He founded St. John's, finding con- genial surroundings in extending spiritual help to the army of workmen who came during the construction of the canal, many of whom re- mained to make their homes here upon its com- pletion, and to the settlers who came in the wake of the installation of convenient transpor- tation facilities. Father Bredeick, who was born January 22, 1789, was the first priest of the church, serving without remuneration from 1844 until his death, which occurred August 19, 1858. Rev. Aloysius I. Hoeffel is now the officiating priest of this early-founded church.

Ferdinand Bredeick was married at Glan- dorf, Putnam County, Ohio, in February, 1836 to Mary Elizabeth Wrocklage, who was born August 20, 1819, in Germany and came to America with her brother, Theodore Wrock- lage, when she was 17 years of age. Subse- quently. in 1845, her parents came to America. Her father, Christian Mathias Wrocklage, was born in Germany, February 2, 1789, and died at Delphos, Ohio, April 9, 1846; his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Elizabeth Ger- deman, was born in Germany and died at Del- phos, Ohio, October 2, 1846, aged 45 years. The children of Ferdinand and Mary Eliza- beth (Wrocklage) Bredeick were: Elizabeth, who died in infancy at Glandorf, Putnam County, Ohio; Bernadina, widow of the late Henry J .. Moennig, of Washington township, Van Wert County, whose sketch appears else- where in this volume; Mary Victoria, born December 23, 1841, and deceased August 15, 1886. who was the wife of Charles E. Schenck : Amelia J., the first white child born at Delphos. who married George F. Lang, now deceased, and still resides at Delphos; and Ferdinand.

barn October 19, 1846, and deceased Septem- 1 1 16, 1848. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Bredeick remained a widow five years and then married Joseph Ostendorf. Her death took place August 27, 1887.

ENRY J. MOENNIG, whose death oc- curred at Delphos, Ohio, October 17, 1897, was one of the leading men of the city during the active years of his business life. He was born January 15, 1830, at Bohmte, Hanover, Germany. In 1843 he came to the United States with his parents, the party also including his grandfather, his two brothers and his two sisters. From New Orleans where they landed in November, the party proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the same month, and there remained three months, finally moving to Delphos, locating here March 2, 1844. The trip was made by the canal from Cincinnati to Piqua and then by wagon. At that time Delphos was known as Section Ten.

Henry J. Moennig assisted his father in clearing the latter's land, which now is em- braced in the northeastern part of Delphos and lies in Allen County. Entering commercial life he was employed as clerk by the firm of Esch & Wrocklage, taking up his duties on July 5, 1847. He remained with this firm until October, 1852, when he engaged in general merchandising with Joseph Ostendorf, the firm being known as Ostendorf & Moennig. He was thus engaged in mercantile business from 1852 to 1862. In October of the latter year he engaged in a general merchandise business on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets under the firm name of Moennig & Wulforst. In 1866 he erected the building on the corner of Main and Second streets, which is now owned by Aaron Fisher. and founded

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a hardware and agricultural implement busi- ness, which he conducted under the name of H. J. Moennig & Company until 1880, when he closed out the hardware fine, thereafter con- tinuing the implement business until 1893. In 1875 he erected the building now occupied by the National Bank of Delphos. Mr. Moennig was prominent in the civil affairs of Washing- ton township and of the county of Van Wert. On April 1, 1867, he was elected treasurer of Washington township, which office he held for four years. He also served as a member of the City Council from 1868 to 1870 and from 1890 to 1894. On April 1, 1895, he was elected clerk of Washington township to fill a vacancy and on April 6, 1896, he was reelected for a full term.

On August 6, 1857, Mr. Moennig was mar- ried to Mary Bernadina Bredeick, the ceremony being performed by Rev. John Otto Bredeick, her uncle. Mrs. Moennig was born at Glan- dorf, Putnam County, June 16, 1839, and is a daughter of Ferdinand and Mary Elizabeth (Wrocklage) Bredeick, her father being the founder of Section Ten, now known as Del- phos. Mrs. Moennig is the only survivor of the original party that settled at Delphos, being four years old at that time. An account of the founding of Delphos will be found in the sketch of her father, Ferdinand Bredeick, which ap- pears elsewhere in this work and also in the history of Delphos, forming an important fea- ture of this work. Mrs. Moennig was reared at Delphos and can recall much of its early his- tory. She attended the early schools and com- pleted her education at the Convent of Notre Dame at Dayton, Ohio. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moennig, as follows : Ferdinand H. C., born January 17, 1859, who married Ada Pierce, of Indiana, and died at Chicago, Illinois, January 17, 1902, leaving no children; Elizabeth B., born October 29,

1863, who resides at home with her mother; Mary W., born April 15, 1866, who died on the 17th of the following November; Henry J., born January 6, 1869, who died July 17, 1892, at Cleveland, Ohio; being then 23 years and six months old; Agnes T., born March 31, 1872, who resides with her mother; Margaret M., born August 24, 1874, who died on the day of her birth; Otto William, born May 13, 1876, who resides at home; and George H., born Au- gust 28, 1878, who died on the day of his birth.

Mr. Moennig was a member of the coun- cil and treasurer of the Church of St. John the Evangelist at Delphos, and a member of the Lima branch of the Catholic Knights of America.

L OUIS J. BARNETT, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Jennings township, who resides on his fine farm of 140 acres in section 16, is a survivor of the Civil War in which he was a brave sol- dier from 1861 until 1865. Mr. Barnett was born in Germany in 1843, and is a son and the only surviving child of Peter and Susan (Has- lack) Barnett.

The father of Mr. Barnett died in Germany. His mother married as her second husband a German by the name of John Long, who was a cooper by trade. In 1846 the family came to America, settling first in Auglaize County, Ohio, but later moving to Deep Cut, Allen County. Our subject learned the trade of cooper with his step-father and then worked at the same for three years as a journeyman.

In 1861 Mr. Barnett entered the Union Army, enlisting on October 16th in Company F, 64th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He served faith- fully until he was mustered out in Texas, in December, 1865, after having participated in

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all the battles in which his regiment was en- gaged. He survived all the dangers of a sol- dier's life and has a record for bravery of which his children may be very proud.

In 1872 Mr. Barnett came to Var Wert County and settled on 80 acres of his present farm, 15 acres of which had been cleared. The place had only been improved by the erection of a log cabin and stable; every other improve- ment, including an expensive system of ditch- ing, has been put in by Mr. Barnett. When he first came here he found plenty of wild turkeys and an occasional deer. His nearest mill point was Spencerville, which was almost impossible to reach when the locks of the canal were dis- abled. He experienced his share of pioneer hardships; through persevering industry he overcame them and not only cleared the 80 acres of his original farm but also an addi- tional 20, making his farm one of 100 acres, which is all neatly fenced, with rails split by himself.

Mr. Barnett was married on February 27, 1866, in Willshire township, to Malissa Walt- ers, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, and in childhood accompanied her parents to Van Wert County. The children of this mar- riage were nine in number. The survivors are the following: John, now operating the home farm in Jennings township and living west of Monticello, who married Myrtle Ferrell; Julia, wife of Alva Cooper, of Auglaize County ; Sherman, of Jennings township, who married Stella Miller; Sylvester, who married Cora Decker and lives on a farm opposite his fath- er's; Edward, who married Bridget Rupert and lives in Mercer County; Milta, who married George Snyder and lives in section 18, Jen- nings township, west of Monticello; and Vir- gil, who married Blanche De Vose and lives at Monticello. Mr. Barnett is very proud of his 21 grandchildren and they are, indeed, a fine

lot of young Americans, intelligent, industrious and respected.

Mr. Barnett is one of the old members of the United Brethren Church at Monticello and belonged when the services were held in a log cabin in this vicinity. The first gathering was in 1874. He has been a liberal supporter and was chairman of the building committee when the Monticello church was built. He has served two terms as township trustee and is superintendent of the Monticello turnpike.

ASPER DUDLEY, one of the promi - nent citizens of Wren, in Willshire township, formerly mayor of the vil- lage and incumbent of other offices, is interested in a large elevator business at this point and handles flour, coal, salt and cement. Mr. Dudley was born near Caldwell, Noble County, Ohio, on November 17, 1855, and is a son of James and Sarah (Walter) Dudley.

Judge Gilmore Dudley, the founder of the Dudley family in Noble County and the grand- father of our subject, was born in Maine and in young manhood came to the county named. He was a man of fine education and excellent parts, serving for 25 years as a justice of the peace and subsequently as probate judge. He lived to be 80 years of age. Except one, all of his children-three sons and four daughters -became school teachers. One son, Win, be- came a captain in the Union Army during the Civil war (taking out a company from Noble County) and afterward became a member of the legal profession.

James Dudley, father of Jasper, was born in Noble County, December 5, 1822, and died there October 20, 1877. By trade he was a carpenter, following that avocation during the

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SAMUEL COLLINS

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summer seasons and during the winters teach- ing school, in Noble County and later in Van Wert County. He was a skillful workman and erected the first house in Caldwell, Noble Coun- ty, as well as the Court House there. In 1864 he came to Wren and soon settled on a farm in Harrison township, three miles north of the village, working at first in the timber, but later teaching and engaging in carpenter work. He married Sarah Walter, who was born in Noble County, April 28, 1833, and now resides on the old homestead in Harrison township. Mrs. James Dudley is a daughter of George and Mary (Brownrig) Walter, natives of Eng- land, and the mother of nine children as fol- lows: Flora (Hart), deceased; Mary (Zim- merman), deceased; Jasper, of this sketch; Win, of Harrison township; Eva, who died at two years of age; Lepha (Erwin), of Michi- gan: Martha (Cowan), of Decatur, Indiana; James H., residing on the farm with his moth- er; and Elizabeth (Dull), of Malinta, Henry County, Ohio.

Jasper Dudley continued to reside on the home farm until 1875, and then for a year lived in Monroeville, Indiana. Subsequently he re- turned to the farm and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until some nine years ago. In 1897, he located at Wren, and for about four years engaged in the grocery line, in partner- ship, with Peter Herl, under the firm style or Herl & Dudley. In the elevator business he is associated with J. L. and Nelson Moser, W. B. Frysinger and Fred Gehres, under the firm name of Dudley & Company, a strong organi- zation formed in 1901.

On November 17, 1878, Mr. Dudley was married (first) to Katherine Pomeroy, who was born in Harrison township, Van Wert County, Ohio, September 9, 1862, and died April 20, 1887. She was a daughter of Frank and Phoebe (Balyeat) Pomeroy. They had

two children-Eva T., now deceased, and Floyd, a resident of Delphos. On March 9, 1892, Mr. Dudley was married (second) to Martha Heurless, who was born in Harrison township, Van Wert County, Ohio, October 2, 1862, and is a daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Heurless. They have one daughter- Ruth.

Mr. Dudley has been a lifelong Democrat, and on many occasions his fellow-citizens have called him to positions of honor and responsi- bility. For four years he served as clerk of Harrison township, was mayor of Wren for one term, and for four years was clerk of the village. He is a very important factor in the business, political and social circles of Wren.

AMUEL COLLINS, a retired farmer residing in Van Wert, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is a gentleman whom it is a pleasure to present to the reader as a representative of the highest type of American citizenship and one whose example it would be wise to take as a guide. The very obstacles which beset his path were made to serve as stepping-stones by which to reach the desired end of an honored, pros- perous and a happy old age. Mr. Collins was born in Hocking County, Ohio, near the Ross County line, on October 2, 1822, his parents being Samuel and Sarah (Davis) Collins, the former a native of New York and the latter, of Hocking County, Ohio. The father came to Hocking County when a young man and remained there for the remainder of his life. He was twice married, his first wife preceding him to the grave many years and leaving five children-Eli, Nancy, Joseph, Samuel and Sarah-of whom our subject is the only sur- vivor. Mr. Collins had two children by his second marriage, who, with the widow, sur-

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vived him when he passed away at the age of 75 years.

Samuel Collins spent about 8 years of his earlier life at work in a grist-mill. Ile then engaged in agriculture, and in 18, came to Van Wert County and purchased a tract of 388 acres about three miles south of Van Wert. He raised considerable stock in connection with his farming, thus continually building up his land and adding to its value until it is one of the most fertile in the county. About two years ago he sold all but 160 acres, the culti- vation of which he takes great pleasure in over- seeing. In 1885 he decided to move to the city and take life in a more leisurely manner, and, with his usual judgment, chose the best street in Van Wert on which to purchase a home. The residence is a comfortable brick structure, whose quiet elegance is in harmony with the unassuming habits of its owner.

In 1846 Mr. Collins was married to Eliza- beth Featherolf, a native of Hocking County and a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Fish) Featherolf. She was born in 1826 and died in her 60th year. Of their family, three children died in infancy and five are living, namely : Lewis, of Topeka, Kansas; Martin, who resides in St. Paul, Minnesota; Mary Jane, wife of Edward B. Gilliland of Van Wert; Peter, who lives on a farm in Ridge township; and Hannah, who is her father's housekeeper. Mr. Collins had been a Democrat until some 12 years ago, when he joined forces with the Prohibitionists and he has since given his support to that party.

R EV. JOSEPH J. BEUCLER, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, at Van Wert, is one of the well-known and very highly esteemed clergymen of this city. Father Beucler was born at

Luisville, Ohio, December 23, 1863. and is one of a family of nine children born to his parents, Dr. Joseph S. and Mary (Girard) Beucler.

Father Beucler is a man of scholarly attain- ments. He is a graduate of St. John's Uni- versity, Minnesota, and was ordained to the priesthood on December 18, 1892, at St. Cloud, Minnesota, by Rt. Rev. Otto Zardetti, D. D.

After his ordination Father Beucler was stationed in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennes- see, where he ministered to spiritual needs at various places for 10 years. On October 3, 1903, he was transferred to Van Wert. be- coming pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, as the successor of Rev. P. J. Quinn. Father Beucler has some 35 families in his parish and he is much beloved by his congregation. Since taking charge at St. Mary's, he has shown both religious zeal and executive ability. The par- ish is in a very flourishing condition, but num- erous improvements are in view, a most cor- dial feeling existing between the head of the church and its people.

P ERRY R. KREIDER, one of the rep- resentative citizens and substantial farmers of Pleasant township, and the owner of a fine farm of 80 acres in section 28, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, February 12, 1855, and is a son of John R. and Sarah (Hersh) Kreider.

The parents of Mr. Kreider were born in Pennsylvania and removed to Ohio early in the '50's, residing in Ashland County for some 10 years and then removing to Pleasant town- ship, Van Wert County, where the mother still survives. The father died in July, 1882. John R. Kreider was a man of high standing in the township, honest and upright in all his deal-

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ings ; of the children born to him and his wife, the survivors are: Joseph M .; Naomi, wife of J. M. Baker; Jerry R., of this sketch; Mrs. John Gearheiser; John F .; Howard V .; F. P., a physician of Van Wert; and Clara, wife of Harry Hogue.

Jerry R. Kreider was reared on his father's farm and there learned all the details of an agricultural life, which have been used to his advantage, as is demonstrated by his well- cultivated and productive land. He came to his present farm in 1889, when it was still cov- ered and surrounded by dense woods. From such unpromising conditions Mr. Kreider de- veloped a valuable farm, which is well stocked with cattle, hogs, and improved machinery.

Mr. Kreider was married January 25, 1876, to Mary E. Johns, who was born April 9, 1860, in Pleasant township, Van Wert County, and is a daughter of Jacob W. and Eliza (Huston) Johns, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Johns came to Van Wert County in 1840, settling first in Harrison township and then in Pleasant township, where Mr. Johns died about 1865. His widow survives and resides with a daughter in Andrews, In- diana. The surviving children of Jacob W. Johns and wife are: Dallas W., of Willshire township : Margaret N., of Tyndall, South Da- kota: Sarah L. (Mrs. R. J. Wybourn), of Andrews, Indiana; Ira W., of Pleasant town- ship; Clara D. (Mrs. Levin Kiehm), of Ore- gon; and Mary E., wife of our subject. The children of Jerry R. Kreider and wife are Orlando H., Ella M., John F., Andrew C., Jerry C., Marion F. and Lucy E.

Like his father, Mr. Kreider is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and is now serving as one of the township trustees. He takes a deep interest in educational matters and does all in his power to increase the scope and usefulness of the public schools.

n OSES THOMAS GERMANN, one of the representative young farmers of Washington township, where he owns 276 acres of fine farming land, was born February 22, 1884, and is a son of Moses I. and Mary I. (Payne) Germann.

While the Germann family originated in Germany, it has been long established in Ohio, and has many connections throughout the State. Moses Germann, the great-grandfather of our subject, took up a farm of 160 acres of Government land in Muskingum County, Ohio, but later removed to Licking County, where he died in 1856. The grandparents of our sub- ject were Thomas and Mary (Hanley) Ger- mann, who were married in Muskingum County. The grandfather died in 1877 and the grandmother in 1884. Their children were: William, of Missouri; David of Kentucky; Margaret Hannah, deceased in 1890, who was the wife of Sampson Kohn; Moses I., the father of our subject; and Emma ( Mrs. Theo- dore Fraser), of Logan County, Ohio, who died April 1, 1897.

Moses I. Germann, father of our subject, remained at home and secured his education in the district schools. At the age of 16 years he went to Paulding County, where. in 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company I, 100th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., as a private. His regiment saw considerable ser- vice and Mr. Germann participated in all its campaigns until the battle of Cumberland Gap, on February 22, 1864, when he was captured by the Confederates. He was compelled to re- main in captivity until the following May, when he was released from prison after taking oath of allegiance to the Confederate govern- ment and donning a suit of Confederate gray. He watched his chance and soon after escaped to the Union lines.

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In 1862, about the time of his enlistment. Mr. Germann was married to Mary I. Pay e. who was a daughter of George anl Irene Payne. To them were born to children, eight of whom are now living, as follows: Rhoda Ellen, born in 1866, who married Jacob Hus- ton. of Hocking County, Ohio, now residing at Portland, Indiana, and has two children- Doyt and Dora; Irene, born in 1868, who mar- ried George Reed, of Van Wert County, Ohio, and has five children-Nellie Cloyd, James, Myrtle and Harold; Myrtle, born in 1870. who hase been twice married-first to Joseph Hay, and second to John Mowen, of Lima, Ohio: Clara, born in 1872, who married William Himmelright, lives in Chicago and has one child-Grace; Minnie, born in 1874, who mar- ried Abraham Piper, resides in the State of Washington and has two children-Paul and John; Grace, born in 1876, who married Mack Dickson and lives at Springfield, Ohio: Pearl. born in 1880, who married Henry Flick, of Delphos, Ohio, and has one child-Joseph ; and Moses Thomas, the subject of this sketch. George Gilmore, the eldest of Mr. Germann's children, was born in 1864 and died at the age of two years. Another child died in infancy. For the past 18 years Moses I. Germann has been a large dealer in real estate and engaged in other business enterprises at Delphos. He is one of the county's substantial men.

Moses Thomas Germann was reared at home and was afforded excellent educational advantages. He was trained to practical farm- ing and on his large property, which was the generous gift of his father, he carries on ex- tensive operations along modern lines.

On November 3, 1904. Mr. Germann mar- ried Rosella Metzger. They have a very com- fortable, modern home. In religious views they are Catholics, being communicants of the Church of St. John the Evangelist at Delphos.

OHN W. EVANS, Supreme Secretary of the Home Guards of America, a fraternal insurance society, of Van Wert, is one of the most worthy and enterprising men of this pleasant little city. He was born among the mines in Jackson County, Ohio, May 21, 1847, son of Wil- liam and Jane Evans, natives of Abery- stwyth, Wales, who early came to America. His father was manager of the Cambria fur- nace in Jackson County, Ohio, and was killed while overseeing the loading of a huge stone; the rope broke and the lever struck him on the head, which injury proved fatal. His son, the subject of this sketch, was then but seven years of age.

John W. Evans had received most of his education by the time he reached his 12th year, attending but three terms afterward, as at that age he was engaged in hauling ore, iron, coal, etc., at the mines and furnaces. When 16 years of age he started out for himself, with the lucky number $13, and this sum he was com- pelled to use for necessary clothing and travel- ing expenses to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he arrived without a dollar. However, he secured work at once on the gunboats, which were be- ing built at that place, and here by industry and application soon commanded the confidence of his employers and the highest praise for his labor. He first came to Van Wert County. Ohio, in the fall of 1863. and attended the dis- trict school that winter in York township. The next summer he attended school at Ewington, Gallia County, Ohio, and at Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, when he again came to Van Wert County, and taught school during the winters and worked on the farm in the sum- mer. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Evans was mar- ried. and then engaged in farming and teach- ing for seven years. In 1874 he became a part- ner in the drug and book firm of Eysenbach &

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Company at Delphos, Ohio, in which business he continued two years, when Mr. Eysenbach retired and the firm became Evans & Evans (J. W. Evans and Hugh W. Evans). Early in 1883 another change occurred, when Hugh W. Evans sold his interest to Dr. C. C. Bliss, and the firm became Evans & Bliss, so remain- ing until 1890, when Mr. Evans sold his inter- est to his partner, Dr. C. C. Bliss. In 1888 Mr. Evans moved to Van Wert, where he engaged in the grocery business for one year and then founded the Central Drug Store, which he con- tinued to operate until 1896. He owns some very valuable land in Van Wert County, con- sisting of several farms and city property. Since the above date he has been more or less engaged in superintending his agricultural con- cerns. In 1899 he assisted his brother-in-law, Dr. G. J. Eblen, a prominent physician and surgeon of Van Wert (a sketch of whom will be found in this volume), in organizing the Home Guards of America, the membership of which now reaches into the thousands. In August, 1904, he was elected to his second term of four years as Supreme Secretary of this fraternal order.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 43

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870