History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 70

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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Lindeman is one of the progressive young farmers of the county and is the owner of a well-improved homestead, the large barn, which was built in 1895, being one of the many improvements placed upon the property. He carries on general farming and has been very successful. Mr. Lindeman was married May 17, 1898, to Emma Martz, daughter of John Martz, of Washington township. They have two bright children-Raymond A., born June 19. 1901, and Joseph E., born February 6, 1903. Mr. Lindeman is a prominent member of St. John's Catholic Church of Delphos and of the Catholic Knights of Ohio.

R OSCOE GRANT SMITH, a well- known farmer of Liberty Township, who owns and resides on a farm of 80 acres in section 13, is a son of John A. and Rebecca F. (Hardenbrook) Smith.

John A. Smith, the father, was a native

of Germany, and when about six years old, came with his mother to America. His father had died in Germany, and his mother came to this country with her two children, locating in Pennsylvania, where she lived for some time and was later married. When a young man, John A. Smith went to California, during the gold excitement, remaining there for about four years, when he returned and settled in Miami County, Ohio. In September, 1854, he was married to Rebecca F. Hardenbrook, who is still living and resides on a farm of 80 acres directly across the road from the residence of her son, Roscoe G. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. John A. Smith were the parents of five children, as follows: Lucinda J., wife of John F. Keller, of Peoria, Illinois; Cora L .. living at home; Ralso L., who resides in Mer- cer County, Ohio; Celia G., wife of W. E. Barfield, of Peoria, Illinois ; and Roscoe Grant.

Roscoe G. Smith was reared on his father's farm, was married to L. A. Thomas and they have had the following five children : Paul W .. who died at the age of two years; Lelia May: Hazel Grace; Fern B., who died at the age of 19 months; and Walter B. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Church and in politics our subject is a Republican.

ENRY WIECHART, deceased, who was a well-to-do agriculturist of Washington township, was born in Hanover, Germany. January 20, 1831, and was a son of Henry Wiechart. a farmer of that locality. Coming to America at the age of 15, he came at once to Ohio and took up his residence at Delphos, where. by industry and economy, he became the owner of 93 acres of land in section 11, Washington township, where Mrs. Wiechart resides. He took a great interest in all public improve-

Digitized by Google

- - - . - - - - - -

653

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

ments and for two terms proved one of the most satisfactory supervisors Washington township ever had. He was a devout member of St. John's Catholic Church and a citizen in whom his community took a just pride.

In 1859 Henry Wiechart was married, at Delphos, by Father John Otto Bredeick, the founder of Catholicism in that place, to Mary Trentman. Mrs. Mary Riechart was born in Hanover, Germany, February 26, 1839, and was a child of six years when her parents came to the United States and settled on a farm west of Delphos; her mother died in 1854 and her father, February 14, 1895. A family of 12 children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wiechart, of whom the following eight are living: Mary E .; Henry J., who married Winifred A. Clark and is the father of two children-Elizabeth E. and Nellie M .; Ferdi- nand A., who married Rosa Wanamaker; Frank T. and Benjamin, both at home; Theo- dore F., who works on the railroad at Du- buque, Iowa; and Agnes and Gregora, who also live at home. Frank and Ferdinand own 80 acres of land in Washington township. Since the death of her husband in October, 1891, Mrs. Wiechart has continued to live on the home farm, where she is in the enjoy- ment of the best of health and, although a woman of 67 years, might readily pass for one of 50.

J OHN OSCAR ARMSTRONG, whose death occurred November 15, 1901, was for many years one of the well- known and representative farmers of Washington township, and was engaged in operating a thoroughly developed and finely improved farm in section 18. Mr. Armstrong was born in a log cabin on the farm now oc- cupied by his widow, being a son of Thomas

and Sarah Ann (Saum) Armstrong. He was reared in Washington township, and obtained his education in the district schools of the vicinity. Throughout his early manhood he assisted on his father's farm, and during his entire later life engaged in agricultural pur- suits on the old homestead farm. The Arm- strong family was at one time among the largest land owners of Washington township, Thomas Armstrong, father of our subject, having at one time between 300 and 400 acres of land.

On January 25, 1874, John O. Armstrong was married to Christina Foster, a daughter of John and Mary (Bowers) Foster. John Foster was born and raised in Perry County, where his father (George Foster) was one of the pioneer farmers.

Mrs. Christina Armstrong was born in Perry County, Ohio, on November 1, 1853, and in 1866, when 13 years old, came to Van Wert County with her parents, who settled on a farm of 80 acres, three miles west of Mid- dlepoint, Ridge Township. Her father died the following year; her mother lived until September, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. John Foster had the following eight children: Catherine, Daniel and Adam, who died during infancy ; Mary, who married Albert Moore, of Ridge township; Elizabeth, who died aged 23 years; Samuel, who married Hannah Frey, of Xenia, Ohio, where the couple now live; Christina, widow of John O. Armstrong; and Emma (Laman), who resides in Middlepoint.

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had 10 children, all living: Charles, who married Catherine White, lives in Middlepoint, and is the father of Fane, Guy and Virgil (deceased in in- fancy) ; Arthur, employed by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, who lives in Fort Wayne, In- diana; Mary Ellen, who married James Rayer, of Van Wert and has one child, Christina; and

Digitized by Google

654

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Thomas, May, Frank, Minnie and Minta (twins), Josephine Pearl and Lee Owen, ail living at home. Religiously the family are members of the Lutheran Church.

e HARLES LONGWELL, a repre- sentative agriculturist of Jackson township, . whose well-improved iarm of 80 acres is situated in sec- tion 30, was born in this township on April 3, 1863, and is a son of George and Mary (Sheets) Longwell.

The parents of Mr. Longwell were pioneer settlers in Jackson township, locating here in 1851. The father was a native of Delaware County, Ohio, and the mother of Virginia. After a long and useful life, George Longwell died on his farm in Jackson township in July, 1872. His wife survived him until April 2, 1901. They were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the parents of a family of 13 children.

Charles Longwell was reared in Jackson township and was educated in the district schools. He was early trained in agricultural pursuits, for which he has always had a lean- ing, and has proved a successful farmer and stock-raiser. His fine estate is known as "Brook Side Farm." For some time Mr. Longwell has made a specialty of raising thoroughbred Percheron horses, and has done much to increase interest in this specialty and to improve general agricultural methods in his section of the county.

On February 14. 1901, Charles Longwell was married to Herma Downing, who was born September 7, 1881, in Jackson township, Van Wert County, and is a daughter of Israel and Amelia (Hamilton) Downing, both na- tives of Ohio, who settled in Jackson township

shortly after the close of the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Downing are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Jackson town- ship. Of their children, the survivors are: Reuben W., of Middlepoint; Vashti, wife of Leroy Leist, of Allen County, Ohio; Perry, of Hoaglin township; Olive, wife of Marion Cowgill, of Pleasant township; Maria, wife of John Phillips, of Allen County, Ohio: Leafa, wife of Reuben Thatcher, of Jackson township; Herma, wife of our subject; and Charles R., of Jackson township.

Mr. and Mrs. Longwell are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Jack- son township. Mr. Longwell has been a very active worker in the various agricultural or- ganizations in his section of the county: is a charter member, and for a number of years was master, of Washington Grange, No. 1327. Patrons of Husbandry; is also identified with the State Grange, and on two different occa- sions has represented Van Wert County as a delegate to that body. He belongs also to Po- mona Grange, of Van Wert County, and is a director of the Van Wert County Agricultural Society. Politically Mr. Longwell is a Repub- lican : but above all he is a good citizen, who cheerfully and firmly supports the laws and willingly contributes to public measures de- signed to develop and improve his community. i

A P. HOFFMAN, one of the leading farmers of Liberty township, who owns the old Hoffman homestead farm of more than 40 acres in the outskirts of Ohio City, and is also interested in oil production, was born here in 1865. and is a son of the late Christopher Hoffman.

Mr. Hoffman's early life was spent on the home farm, but after completing his education

Digitized by Google

655

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

he worked for three years on a railroad, and then, in association with his brother, Benja- min F. Hoffman, the present mayor of Ohio City, entered into a grocery business at Ohio City. The firm of Hoffman Brothers con- tinued for seven years, doing a large trade in staple and fancy groceries. After the sale of the grocery, A. P. Hoffman went into the hardware line with a Mr. Hill, under the firm name of Hoffman & Hill, which conducted the business for seven years. After selling his hardware interests, Mr. Hoffman removed to the old home farm where, on account of its nearness to the city, he can enjoy both rural and urban life. He is also financially inter- ested in the Liberty Oil Company.

In 1888 A. P. Hoffman was married to Ella Harp, daughter of Alexander Harp, who formerly lived in Liberty township, but is now a resident of Gas City, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have three children-Hazel, Maud and Dale. Both our subject and wife are members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he is a trustee.

Politically Mr. Hoffman is a Democrat. He has served as marshal of Ohio City, but is more interested in agriculture than in poli- tics. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Odd Fellows, being a member of the Encampment of the latter fra- ternity.

ACOB SMITH, who resides on a well- developed farm located in section 28, Washington township, is one of the most progressive farmers of the lo- cality. He is a son of Jacob Smith, a native of Germany, and was himself born in Prussia on May 27, 1839.

As an infant of one year Jacob Smith was

brought by his parents to America, the family locating on a farm at Grafton, Ohio. When he was nine years old they moved from Graf- ton to the vicinity of Elyria, Lorain County, and there remained for 20 years. There our subject was reared and educated. When the father died in 1856 he was the owner of IOI acres of farm land near Elyria.

In 1868 Jacob Smith was married to Chris- incia Kalsch, widow of Christopher Kalsch, and daughter of Joseph Baldauf, who lived and died in Germany. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Washington township and settled on a farm of 30 acres, which, with 40 acres afterward added, consti- tutes their present homestead. The original land was mostly wilderness, in the clearing of which much hard work was expended.

Mrs. Jacob Smith came to this country with her mother and step-father, when but 10 years of age. By her first marriage she had three children-Catherine wife of Joseph Schaefer, of Cleveland, Ohio; Elizabeth, who married Michael Kalozi, also of that city; and Frances, unmarried. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born two children-Barbara and Joseph. They are all members of St. John's Catholic Church, of Delphos, and Miss Bar- bara Smith is a member of the Young Ladies' Sodality.

J F. WILLIAM STAMM, one of the leading citizens of Van Wert and a member of the Stamm Clothing Com- pany of this city, was born in 1869 in the village of Convoy, this county. He is a son of David and Katherine (Schumm) Stamm, the former of whom is a native of Holmes County and the latter. of Van Wert County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. David Stamm moved West in 1883, and are now residing in

Digitized by Google

656

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Pittsburg, Kansas. Our subject was the oldest of 12 children, eight of whom are living.

When he was 12 years of age J. F. Wil- liam Stamm accompanied his parents to Bates County, Missouri, but two years later started out for himself, in October of 1885 returning to Van Wert and clerking for his uncle, W. G. Stamm. He remained thus employed until July, 1887, when his uncle opened a store in Lincoln, Nebraska, and our subject retained his position with him there for another two years. Returning to Van Wert in September, 1889, he became a clerk for L. J. Germann & Company and later, until January, 1903, was connected with Henry Davis. In the follow- ing September the store of the Stamm Cloth- ing Company was opened to the public, Mr. Stamm being one of four proprietors and hav- ing the entire management of the business. He has had a splendid business training, while few men are better qualified to appreciate the needs of their patrons and to supply them with that promptness and tact which mark the per- fect salesman. The stock carried by the com- pany is one of the best to be found in this part of Ohio and their establishment enjoys a very liberal trade.

In 1897 J. F. William Stamm was mar- ried to Alice Swartout, a native of Van Wert, born in 1878, and a daughter of O. D. Swart- out. They have had two children-John M., who died in infancy, and Frederick O. The family are members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, in which they are untiring workers. Mr. Stamm himself is a member of the Home Guards of America and the Trewnav Club and is also a prominent Mason, being identified with Van Wert Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M .; Van Wert Chapter, No. 71, R. A. M .; Van Wert Council, R. & S. M .; and Ivanhoe Com- mandery, No. 54, K. T.

M. CLOUSE is an extensive land- owner and a representative farmer of Liberty township. He has 366 acres of land, divided into several farms, the resident property of 1571/2 acres being situated in section 20. Mr. Clouse was born in Liberty township on March 18, 1843, and was the fourth child of George and Eliza- beth (Kessler) Clouse, who were among the very earliest settlers of Van Wert County.

W. M. Clouse has always lived in his na- tive township, with the exception of the time he spent in the army during the Civil War. Here he was reared and educated. At the be- ginning of the war, our subject enlisted in Company A, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. W. C. Scott and later served under Capt. W. T. Exline. He served from August, 1862, until July, 1865, and in the charge at Look- out Mountain was severely wounded, causing him to be in the hospital or several weeks. On two other occasions he was confined to the hos- pital; once in Louisville, Kentucky, from the fall of 1862 until the following March, and also in Washigton, D. C., for three months. With these three exceptions he was with the regiment continuously.

On June 17, 1866, Mr. Clouse was married to Emaline Boyer in Willshire township, and had three children by this marriage: Emma May; George Monroe, who married Clara Anspach and has three children; and Orpha Annis, who married Bert Wright, lives in Harrod, Ohio, and has three children. Mrs. Clouse died in 1873. Mr. Clouse was married (second) to Minerva Watt, in 1873; they had two children : Charles Lucine, a farmer of Liberty township, who married Bertha Stover and has three children; and Nellie Vic- toria, who married Owen Boyer. Mrs. Clouse died in 1879, and Mr. Clouse was again mar-

Digitized by Google

657

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

ried, in 1881, to Frederica Riddle, and has four children by this marriage : David Waldo; William Elsworth; Lusta Lee; and Ernest Virgil.

Mr. Clouse has erected a fine large frame house and barn on his residence property. Another house and barn on the farm are oc- cupied by a renter. Mr. Clouse has a farm of 80 acres in section 29, Liberty township, on which he first settled. In 1903 he purchased 80 acres in York township in section 30, which is also rented, and has good substantial build- ings. In 1904 he bought the old Lindemoot farm of 461/2 acres, which has upon it one of the finest frame houses in Liberty township, as well as a fine barn. There are 12 producing oil-wells on this land.

Mr. Clouse has never been actively inter- ested in politics, but has served one term as township trustee. He is a member of the Church of God, and was for five years deacon ; he has also served as trustee of this church. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

D ANIEL A. BAER, a prominent farmer of Hoaglin township residing on his homestead in section 23, was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, in the township in which he now resides, on July 22, 1863. He is a son of Daniel and Margaret E. (Peters) Baer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former being of German extraction. Our subject's parents were mar- ried in the State of Pennsylvania, later remov- ing to Richland County, Ohio, and in 1859 coming to Van Wert County and making a home in Hoaglin township. Here the father died October 11, 1894. He is survived by his widow, now a lady of 81 years, who resides in Scott, and four children, viz: John D., of

Union township; William H., of Middlepoint ; Samuel G., of Washington township; and Daniel A., the subject of this sketch.

Daniel A. Baer attended the public schools, after which he engaged in agricultural pur- suits. In 1893 he purchased the 80 acres which comprise his present farm. He has converted the property into one of the most productive and desirable homesteads of the township. On January 2, 1892, Mr. Baer was married to Mary Myers, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 12, 1865, and is a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Sherburn) Myers, both of Fairfield County. Five chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baer : Ruby A., February 24, 1893; Edith E .. No- vember 19, 1894; Ray L., October 17, 1896; Glenn, December 28, 1898; and Gale W., April 30, 1905. Mr. Baer is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are devout members of Pleasant View Methodist Episcopal Church in Hoaglin township.

RS. CATHERINE MILLER, widow of Abraham Miller, who died in 1888 at the age of 46 years, is the owner of a valuable farm of 80 acres situated in section 27, Liberty town- ship. She was born in Shanesville (now called Rockford), Mercer County, Ohio, and is a daughter of George Conrad and Catherine (Deal) Koepple.

George C. Koepple was a native of Ger- many and came to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Koepple, who settled in Mercer County and were among the early pioneers of that county. Mr. Koepple owned 95 acres of land in Mercer County, where he was engaged in farming, and was the father of 12 children, 10 of whom are still living.

Catherine Koepple was reared in Mercer

Digitized by Google

658

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

County, and in 1866 was married to Abraham Miller, a son of Henry and Elizabeth Miller, of Mercer County, and a brother of George Miller, of Liberty township. For one year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller lived in Mercer County and in 1867 moved to Lib- erty township, Van Wert County, locating on the farm which is now occupied by the widow, and which is a very valuable property, as oil has been developed upon it. There are at present ten producing oil-wells on the farm. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler, namely : Ora, the oldest, who resides at home; George Perry, who married Bertha Stuck and has three children-Mary Cathe- rine. William Kenneth and Beatrice Leola; Henry Conrad, who died when five weeks old; and Oliver Chester, who lives at home. Mrs. Miller and sons continue to operate the home farm and in 1894 erected a large barn on the place. The family all attend the United Brethren Church.

J OHN D. LARE, an influential farmer of Tully township, was born January 31, 1853, on the old home farm, which is situated in section 28. He is a son of John Lare, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. He has always resided in Tully township and been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. For a year after his marriage he farmed the home place, clearing all but the 15 acres of the farm which did not require it. At first he lived in a cabin on the place, in section 28, but in 1889 erected a fine modern home, and four years later built the substantial barn.

John D. Lare was married December 27, 1877, to Mary Tracy, who was born in Allen County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Elijah and

Sarah ( Reed) Tracy, who came to this county nearly 40 years ago and now live in Convoy, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Lare have had four children : Ira, a resident of Monroeville, Indiana, who married Inez Clem and has one scn, John Lauren, and a daughter, as yet not named; Jay, who married Bessie Webb; Iris, wife of James Sponseller of Tully township, and the mother of one son; and Ray, who lives at home. Both Mr. Lare and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Lare is a Republican in national poli- tics, but locally is independent. As he is a citizen who has the welfare of the community at heart, it was through his efforts despite strong opposition, that pike roads were built throughout Tully township. He has also an interest in the Convoy Telephone Company, and for six years has been a director of the Farmers' Mutual Aid Association of Van Wert County.

6 EORGE SHAFER, one of the pros- perous farmers and representative citizens of Dublin township, Mercer County, Ohio, has all his life resided on his present farm of 210 acres-60 of which are situated in section 34, Liberty township, Van Wert County, and the remaining 150 acres in Mercer County. He was born in Lib- erty township, Van Wert County, February 26, 1843, and is the oldest son of George and Margaret (Snyder) Shafer. Mr. Shafer's father was a native. of Germany, came to America when a young man and first settled in Columbus, Ohio, where he lived for four years. He then moved to LaFayette, Madi- son County, remaining there for about two years, and in 1840 removed to Van Wert County, where he entered 60 acres of timber- land. He was the father of eight children

Digitized by Google

659

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

(the subject of this sketch being the only sur- vivor), and died in 1877. his wife surviving him until 1887.

George Shafer was one of the first white children born in Van Wert County and has lived on the Van Wert and Mercer County line dur- ing his entire life. He has endured many of the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life, and remembers well the time when the woods around his father's place were thickly inhabited by such wild animals as wolves, bears and deer.

Mr. Shafer was married to Elizabeth Flager, a daughter of Adam Flager, who was also one of the pioneers of Van Wert County. . They have had twelve children, as follows : George Adam, who married Belle Dull, a daughter of William Dull, and is the father of six children; William, who married Rebecca Baltzell and has six children: John, who mar- ried Elizabeth Denman, and has five children; Frank, who married Frances Hays, and is the father of two children; Clarence, married to Jesse Shingeldecker ; Ora ; Nellie ( Mrs. Arthur Dillbone), the mother of four children: Otie, who married Edward High and has one child : Grace; Cecil; and Lewis, Urcel and Clark, the last three deceased.

J OSEPH LINDEMANN, who passed away June 30, 1898, will be well re- membered as a prominent farmer of Washington township, having resided here for more than 20 years before his death. He was born in Germany about 1832, and was still young when he accompanied his parents, (Frederick and Clara (Brames) Lindemann), four brothers and a sister to the United States, where they became prominent and valued cit- izens. The children of the family were as

follows: Joseph; Frederick; Henry, who is the father of Hon. J. F. Lindemann. of Del- phos; Frank, a leading farmer of Washington township; and Mrs. Anna Vonderembse, also a resident of Delphos. By a second marriage Frederick. Lindemann had 13 children, and was altogether the father of 18 children, Joseph being the eldest of the family by his first wife.

Joseph Lindemann was for many years a resident of Cincinnati, where he was foreman in a dry goods store, later moving to Covington, Kentucky, and in 1877 retiring from commer- cial life to his farm of 80 acres in Washington township, Van Wert County, which had been purchased by him when a youth in his teens. Here he spent the remainder of his years and was accounted a gentleman of thrift and honor. He had been twice married-first to Catherine Ricke, who died leaving him a widower with three children; then to Mary Lanse, who pass- ed away March 24, 1890, leaving five children. The children of the first union were: Joseph, Jr., who died in Delphos on May 19, 1903, for many years proprietor of the Eagle shoe store; Mrs. Anna Dulweber; and Frank, a traveling salesman, residing in Covington, Kentucky. The second family of children are: Mrs. George Reindel and Benjamin, both of Washington township; Edward, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Christina, (Mrs. Joseph Recker), who died June 28, 1905; and Alois, who died July 15, 1896, aged twenty years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 70

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

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