USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > History of western Ohio and Auglaize County, with illustrations and biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent public men > Part 68
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From Baltimore Mr. Bosche and his friends moved to Cin- cinnati, where he entered a school in which he remained for two years. After this, he secured positions in hotels and restaurants for two years, and in 1849, he came to New Bremen, where he secured a position as clerk in a general store owned by his uncle, John F. Bosche. In 1852, he started a small business for him- self at Montezuma, Mercer county, remained there two years, and in 1855 purchased property in New Bremen, where he engaged in general merchandising. Later, he embarked in the grain and pork business, which he continued for many years. Being very industrious and economical, he saved his money, and soon be- came well known as one of the most sagacious and thorough going business men and a man of superior judgment. He often sent money to his mother in Germany, and was, also, liberal in his contributions to all worthy enterprises.
Mr. Bosche married Miss Louisa Neitert, a native of Ohio, but of German parentage, her parents coming to this country
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about 1830. Nine children have been born to them, as follows : Alvina, who is married and lives in New Bremen; Lafayette is married and lives at Fort Recovery, Ohio; Herman; Pulaski and Edward, both in western Kansas in business; Franklin; Ferdi- nand, deceased ; Felix and Clara, all of whom were given excellent educational advantages. Mr. Bosche is a Republican in politics, and has held numerous positions of trust and honor in his com- munity. He is well known all over the country, and is univer- sally respected.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
WILLIAM BARTH was born in German township, Auglaize "county, Ohio, October 18th, 1840. He is a son of John F. Barth, who emigrated to America in 1836. He made the journey across in a sailing vessel and it consumed ten weeks. Within this time the vessel became unmanageable and drifted so far north that it was in the iceberg region. The suffering that the voyagers endured on that memorable trip cannot be told.
Mr. John Barth, the father, landed in Baltimore and there remained about four years. He was engaged in public works of the city and was employed in various capacities. In 1840 he fitted out a one-horse wagon with the necessaries for an overland jour- ney and with his family turned his face westward. They came 'to Ohio, and being favorably impressed with the appearance of "German township, settled here.
John F. Barth purchased forty acres of land in section six, 'German township, expending in the purchase of it most of the money which he had earned in Baltimore. He erected a log cabin and prepared in short, to make the place a permanent home. The country was new and wild, and settlers were few and far be- tween. In common with almost every other family in those days, the Barths saw some hard times. Although a cripple, John Barth was industrious and aided by his hardworking wife, managed to earn enough to live in comparative comfort. He died in 1865, having been for many years a devoted Evangelical Lutheran. His wife whose maiden name was Elizabeth Helen Kamp was born in Hanover, in 1810. She died in 1875.
The original of this sketch is one of seven children, the third in order of birth. Four of the family still live. During his boy- hood there were few advantages in an educational way; few
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schools and poor teachers. The settlement was composed mostly of Germans and their language alone was taught, so that Mr .. Barth has acquired his English as he has been able to pick it up. With the faithfulness of his race, he remained with his parents, until their death. He has always lived on the old homestead. The old log cabin which was his first home he has replaced with a substantial brick residence, and in place of the old log barn now stands a fine frame one. He has added to his father's original purchase until the farm now comprises one hundred and thirty- nine acres.
In 1870, Mr. Barth was married to Miss Louisa Sprain of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Barth are the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom seven are living: Marietta, Clara, Emma, Ella, Samuel, Edwin and Francis. In politics Mr. Barth affiliates with the Democratic party. In recognition of his worth and ability, he has been elected Township Trustee, a position that he held for ten years. He was elected county commissioner in 1899, which office he held two terms. He has served as secretary of the German Mutual Fire Insurance Company for ten years, and treasurer of the company for twelve years. He and the other members of his family worship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Bremen, in which body he has held various official positions.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
WILLIAM GROTHAUS, SR. was born in Hanover, Germany, De- cember 23d, 1824. Learning at an early age that he was obliged to depend upon his own resources for a livelihood, and that pros- pects for success in the old country being very meager, he decided to come to America, which he did at the age of fourteen years, unaccompanied, locating first at York, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a farm hand for several years, later he came to Cin- cinnati. At this time the "California Gold Excitement" was in its height, and being of an adventurous turn, he determined to make the then long and perilous trip to California to seek his fortune. This was in the year 1850, making the journey via Cuba and the Isthmus of Panama by vessel. He remained in the California gold fields for three years and by undaunted industry, frugality and thoroughness, his adventure was crowned with success, bring- ing much of the precious yellow metal with him.
Upon his return he spent a short time in St. Louis, Missouri,
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being connected with a wholesale house, thence back to Cincinnati where he became interested in a grocery business for a short time only, concluding to retire from the city to pursue an agri- cultural life, which he did by purchasing a tract of land in Van Buren township, Shelby county, Ohio. After following farming for nine years he disposed of the farm and located in New Bre- men, to engage in the wholesale and retail cigar business.
WILLIAM GROTHAUS, SR.
He was elected Mayor of the village which office he held for nine years, also, Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He filled both offices with honor, but was finally compelled to resign on account of failing health.
Mr. Grothaus was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Marie Lanfersieck in 1856, who still survives him and resides in New Bremen. Ten children were born to this union, eight of whom are still living.
In youth he was denied the opportunity of education, but in spite of this fact he was an ardent advocate of learning and good schools, and was considered one of the best informed and wide awake men of the community on general subjects, learning much from experience and travel. He loved his family and his family
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loved him. He was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him.
He died in New Bremen, Ohio, December 8th, 1885.
JOHN GARMHAUSEN was born in Osenburg, Germany, April 29th, 1832. He is a son of Bernhardt and Anna (Heinfeldt) Garmhausen. In 1836, Bernhardt Garmhausen and family left Osenburg for the United States. They had a tempestuous voy- age and landed at Baltimore in the fall of that year. After re- maining a short time at Baltimore, the family moved to Cincin- nati. Here, John Garmhausen grew to manhood. The discov- ery of gold in California in 1849 produced great excitement in the middle and eastern states. In 1850 young Garmhausen joined a party of gold seekers at Cincinnati and made the trip overland to the new El Dorado. He labored in the mines near Sacramento City until 1852, when he returned to Cincinnati. In the same year he located near New Bremen. For fifty-three years he has been a participant in the development of German township and adjacent country. Soon after locating at Lock Two he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He also built a large flouring mill and warehouse, and a few years afterward erected a saw mill. In 1854, he married Miss Mary Strasburg. Of this union nine chil- dren have been born: Florenz, Edward, Charles, Benjamin, Otto, Anna, Ida, Laura and Emma.
In 1892 his store and residence were destroyed by fire. Since then they have been rebuilt more substantially than before. He has always been closely allied with all interests for public im- provements having for their object the public good.
FERDINAND HENRY LOUIS NIETER was born in Hanover, Ger- many, April 26th, 1832. Garrett H. Nieter, his father, was a native of the same country, and was foreman of seven teams en- gaged in hauling goods from Berlin to Hanover. He followed that business until September, 1834, when he decided to try his fortune in the States. He took passage at Bremen, and at the end of thirteen weeks entered the harbor of New York. From there he went by the Lakes to Toledo, and thence to New Bre- men by wagons, making that long distance through the woods. At that time there were three log cabins in New Bremen. Mr. Nieter purchased forty acres of land, and three years later, built a rude log cabin. Eighty acres more were purchased in Shelby
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county two years later, and Mr. Nieter began working on the canal south of Troy, to earn a living for himself and family. In 1842, while attempting to place some barrels in the loft in his cabin, he fell to the floor below and fractured his skull, living only about four hours after the accident. He was forty-five years of age and had always been strong and hearty, never having taken any medicine. In his native country, he had married Miss Monie Gusky, a native of Hanover, Germany, who died in 1850. Seven children were born to them. One died on the ocean, and four are now living.
The original of this notice was the third in the order of birth of these children, and was reared in New Bremen from the age of two years. He attended the early subscription schools here, and his first teacher received eight dollars per month and boarded him- self. The school house was a rude log structure with slab seats and all other home-made furniture of that day, and in that primi- tive building he was instructed in the three R's until fourteen years of age. The story of the life of this pioneer is a record of successful contest with poverty and hardships, and the acqui- sition of a handsome property by means of honest industry. He left home when fifteen years of age to carve out his own fortune, went to Dayton and for six months worked for four dollars per month in the Montgomery Hotel, returning home sick at the end of that time. Afterward, he worked for a farmer for a short time, receiving eight dollars per month for his services.
In 1848, Mr. Nieter began learning the cooper's trade and received fifteen dollars for the first year of his apprenticeship. On the 16th of August, 1849, he began working for Fred Speckman, who was then engaged in the cooper business, and remained with him until 1851, when he was seized with the gold fever. He de- termined to go to California, but before he could arrange his finan- cial affairs, he was taken sick with typhoid fever and for two months his life hung by a thread. Upon his recovery he was obliged to abandon his plan of going to California and, accord- ingly, he embarked in business at home. In 1852, he purchased the cooper shop, including the residence of Mr. Speckman for thirteen hundred dollars, and he and that gentleman entered into partnership under the firm name of Speckman & Nieter. They manufactured all kinds of barrels until 1864, and met with flatter-
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ing success. In April of the last mentioned year, they started a small grocery store and saloon, and engaged in auctioneering, be- ing the only men in that locality who were first class auctioneers. They also dealt in notes, etc.
In 1876, Mr. Speckman and his son Fred, engaged in the dry goods business, and in 1881, our subject became a partner, the firm name being Speckman, Son & Co. The firm also dealt in grain and pork, and had a very flourishing business, owning four farms of three hundred acres, in partnership, beside the saloon property in town. On the 26th of April, 1855, Mr. Nieter married Miss Maria S. Hellbush, a native of German township, Auglaize county, and of German parentage ; her parents coming from Han- over, Germany, to this country. Eleven children were born to. Mr. and Mrs. Nieter. Those now living are Anna, wife of Peter Erb, an agricultural implement dealer of Cincinnati; William, a member of the firm of Speckman, Goll & Co .; Clara, in Spring- field, Ohio; Valerins, Ferdinand and Emma, who are at home. Four are dead, the eldest being two years of age.
In politics Mr. Nieter was a stalwart Democrat, and was an influential man in the ranks of his party. He was elected re- corder of the village before he was twenty-one years of age. He served as clerk for two years and mayor five years. He was . elected justice of the peace of German township, and discharged the duties of that office for over thirty years. He and Mrs. Nieter were active members of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Nieter died May 31st, 1904.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
WILLIAM SCHULENBERG was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sep- tember 7th, 1838. His father and mother, Henry F. and Wilhel- mina (Buck) Schulenberg were natives of Germany. His father was a miller and millwright, and followed those trades until 1833, when he and his family took passage for the United States. After an ocean voyage of two months they landed at Baltimore, and left immediately for Cincinnati, Ohio. In that city, Mr. Schulen- berg engaged in building and contracting for several years. From there he subsequently moved to New Bremen, Ohio, but in a few years returned to Cincinnati. After a short residence in that city, he again moved to New Bremen, where he resided the re- mainder of his life. Here he continued his business of building
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and contracting. Nearly all the first class houses of the town are monuments of his work. Mr. Schulenberg was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, which he built. He served in the army in Germany. He died of cholera in 1849, at the age of forty years. His wife passed away the year previous.
William Schulenberg was the sixth in order of birth of twelve children, three of whom are now living, and was twelve years old when his parents died. He received such educational advantages as the times afforded. After the death of his parents he painted wagons in the shop of a wagon maker until he was fifteen years of age, after which he worked on a farm for three dollars per month. Later he boated on the Miami and Erie Canal. In 1858, he ran the stage and carried the mail from New Bremen to Piqua, and continued thus engaged until 1862. On the 25th of August of that year, he enlisted in company C, Thirty-seventh Ohio In- fantry, under Colonel Siebert, and participated in the battle of Vicksburg, siege and assault of Jackson, Missionary Ridge, Re- saca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Benton- ville. Two of his brothers were in the company and another brother was in the First Ohio Cavalry. Mr. Schulenberg had several bullet holes shot through his blouse, and was shot through the hair once, but never received a flesh wound. The last six months of his service he was sent to Columbus, Ohio, and acted as forwarding officer, forwarding substitutes to the front. He became clerk in that department. On the 28th of May, 1865, he was discharged and returned to New Bremen.
Upon his return he married Miss C. Helwig. Of this union three children have been born: Anna, wife of Edward Lanyhert ; Herbert, who carries on a store, and Francis. In 1868, Mr. Schulenberg was appointed postmaster under General Grant, which position he held until 1885. In 1886 he was elected Sheriff of Auglaize county on the Republican ticket having a majority of three hundred and thirty-one. At the expiration of his term as sheriff, he returned to New Bremen and was re-appointed post- master under General Harrison.
Mr. Schulenberg and wife are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and he is at present superintendent of the Sabbath School.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
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CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT was born in Hanover, Germany, Janu- ary Ist, 1816. He was but six weeks old when both his parents died of that dread disease, cholera, and he was left to the tender mercies of strangers. He was taken by a farmer, with whom he remained until he was nineteen years of age. From the age of seven until fourteen he was kept almost constantly in school. After that, he assisted his kind benefactor on the farm until August, 1834, when, attracted by reports of advantages to be de- rived from a residence in the United States, he took passage for this country. After a tempestuous voyage of nine weeks, he landed in New York. From there he went by way of Albany, Buffalo, and Cleveland to Portsmouth, and from that point down the Ohio river to Cincinnati. After remaining in the latter city for a short time he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he began search- ing for employment. He and his brother found work about thir- teen miles east of Dayton, where they engaged in clearing land and chopping cord-wood at twenty-five cents a cord, meanwhile boarding themselves. After this, our subject worked for a farmer at ten dollars per month. .
In 1841 he married Miss Mary Wiemeyer. Of this marriage nine children were born, of whom the following survive: Henry G., Anna, William C., and Amelia. Lizzie, Caroline, Mary, So- phia and an infant are deceased.
After his marriage, Mr. Schmidt entered into partnership with his brother, who had built a distillery near New Bremen, and this they carried on for three years. In 1849, he started a small grocery in New Bremen. In 1856, he added dry goods to his stock and continued general merchandising until 1881.
Mr. Schmidt during the latter years of his life was an ardent Republican. He served as Mayor of New Bremen one term, was treasurer of the township for several years, was clerk of the vil- lage for some time, township assessor for one year, member of the village council, and a member of the School Board. He and his estimable wife were members of the German Reformed Church, of which church he served as elder for thirty-five years. Mr. Schmidt died January 16th, 1899.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
J. C. KUENZEL was born in Marklenthen, Bavaria, September 5th, 1823, where he spent the first fifteen years of his life, attend-
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ing school, and receiving therefrom a thorough knowledge. of those branches of study necessary in the laying of a sure foundation, upon which to build a permanent structure in after life. When not in school, he was kept busily engaged in honest, useful labor, thus, in early youth becoming possessed of two predominant characteristics, which were plainly observable by all. with whom he came in contact throughout the whole of a success- ful business career, viz., an absorbing love of reading, often into, the small hours of the night. He emigrated to America in 1838,. landing with his father and family in New Orleans, from whence- they came direct to New Bremen, Auglaize county. Having learned the tanner's trade in the old country, he engaged in the- same business with his father in New Bremen. He was success- ful in business, and in 1870 sold his property to Mr. August Boesel.
Mr. Kuenzel was married in 1839, to Miss Maria Wunderlich, by whom he had thirteen children, five of whom survive. He was. always closely allied with all interests for public improvements: of the town, having for their real object the general good. He- was for many years a member of the Board of Education. At the time of his death, September, 1879, he was engaged in the manufacture of flour and woolen goods, in which business he was. succeeded by his son.
(From Sutton's Hist. of Auglaize County.)
MR. H. F. KUENNING was born in Amt Deipholtz, in the former kingdom of Hanover, and emigrated with his parents to- this country in 1835, landing in New York in the month of July. From there he went to Buffalo and Cincinnati, remaining at the places but a short time, and from the latter city went to Louisville, Kentucky, where for one year he made his home with a sister. In the fall of 1836 he came to New Bremen, his parents having previously moved to the pioneer village. In 1846 he married Miss C. W. L. Dammeyer. Of this union five children were born, of whom only three survive. In 1863, his wife died. A year later he married Miss Maria W. Lanfersieck. Of this marriage three sons and five daughters were born.
Mr. Kuenning participated in the vigorous measures taken by the citizens of New Bremen to prevent the landing of the Randolph negroes in 1848, and carried a gun in the memorable
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squabble. He served on picket duty for two days to prevent the landing of the immigrants.
"Mr. Kuenning was a farmer by occupation and was actively engaged in this business until May, 1896, when he turned the management of his farm over to his son. He was connected with the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of which he was presi- dent from 1872 to 1898. In politics he was a Democrat, serving his party in the capacity of School Director, township trustee and assessor, filling each office with honor and credit. In religious circles he also took an active part, being a conspicuous figure in St. Paul's congregation, where he filled every office from deacon to president." He died July 25, 1904.
C. H. KUENNING, a brother of the preceding was born in Germany, October 24th, 1831, and emigrated to this country with his parents at the age of four years, and settled with them on the farm north of town, owned in after years by his brother H. F. Kuenning. Here he was employed until he was nineteen years of age, when he entered the service of Charles Boesel. Four years later he and George Peter Maurer bought the business of Mr. Boesel and conducted the same for four years. At the end of that time he bought out his partner and again entered into part- nership with Mr. Boesel, under the firm name of Boesel & Kuen- ning. In 1900, after having been engaged in active business pur- suits for fifty years, he retired from active business, turning all' his interests over to his two sons.
"On the Ist of September, 1853, he married Miss Maria Clara Shulte. This union was blessed with seven daughters and two sons, of which two daughters died in infancy and one, Mrs. J. H. Pohlman, died in Tippecanoe City in 1900. Never was Mr. Kuenning happier than when he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and for that reason family reunions at the Kuenning home were of frequent occurrence."
Mr. Kuenning died February 18th, 1904.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township was erected by Act of the General Assembly in 1858. Originally, it was a part of German township. It has an area of nineteen and seventy-five hundredths square miles, and is bounded on the north by German township, east by Shelby
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county, and on the south and west by Mercer county. The section of the Act erecting Auglaize county defines the southeast corner of the township as being on the Darke county line, which is an error. The northeast corner of Darke county is situated eleven and fifty-two hundredths rods southwest of the aforesaid corner. The error should be corrected by proper legislation.
The soil of the township is exceedingly fertile, from which bounteous crops spring with the regularity of the seasons. The Loramie Reservoir extends into the township in sections thirty- five and thirty-six. The extension of the L. E. & W. R. R. in 1877 and the Western Ohio R. R. to Minster in 1903, created new life and activity in the township. The development, in the last few years of what is known as the Minster oil field has also ·been a source of benefit.
In 1833, a stock association of Germans was organized at Cincinnati for the purchase of a section of land in Mercer county, Ohio. "The object of this purchase was to lay out and found a town, under certain specified conditions. The conditions bound the company to furnish sufficient money, as a joint fund to enter the land and lay out the town. The funds so provided were to be entrusted to Francis Joseph Stallo, of Mercer county, Ohio, who was authorized to enter the land in his own name. He was further to have this land platted and divided into one hundred and forty- four shares, and fix a day for a meeting of the company at Cin- cinnati, where the price per share and expenses were to be de- termined. The selection of shares was then to be made by the members by lot, the drawer of each share to pay a ratable pro- portion to said Stallo. After the numbers were drawn, Stallo was to make and execute a deed in favor of each purchaser." Under these conditions, the record shows that Stallo on the 8th day of September, 1832, entered the northeast quarter of section thirty- four; the northwest quarter of section thirty-five; the south- east quarter of, section twenty-seven, and the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, in township seven south, range four east, situate in Mercer county, Ohio.
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