USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Logan County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Shelby County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 27
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R UDOLPH A. RULMANN. M. D. A very successful physician and popular druggist of Minster. is Dr. Rohmann. a native of Prussia. born on the 19th of January. 1860. Although young in years. he has met with unusual success in the profession he has chosen, and in the dual capacity of physician and druggist has gained a most enviable reputation. Ilis father, Herman B. Rulmann. was also a native of Prussia. and there followed the trade of a miller. In 1865. he emigrated to America, loeating first at Oldenburgh. later at Laurel. Ind .. and finally. m 1888, came to Minster. where he is now engaged in milling. His wife, the mother of our subjeet. whose maiden name was Augusta Muellar. was born in Prussia. and died in Indiana in 1875. Af- terward. the father married Mi -- Mary Hack man.
Dr. Ruhmann is the elder of two children. his
brother being at the present time a prescription elerk in a Cineinnati drug store. Ile was quite young when his parents came to America, his father crossing the ocean in 1865, and the family following in 1869. They landed at Baltimore, Md .. on the Ist of July of the latter year, and on the 4th reached Cincinnati, where the display and celebrations of that day made an indelible impres- sion upon the mind of the lad. Before coming to America. he had attended school nearly four years in his own country, and after reaching the United States, he was a student in the Reading (Ohio) schools about one year. and later studied at Oldenburgh. Ind. In the year 1874. he entered Francis College and there passed two years. after which. in the fall of 1876, he read medicine with Dr. Averdick.of Oldenburgh. In the antuzun of the following year. he entered the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, took a graded course of four years, and was graduated on the 3d of March, 1881. with the degree of M. D. He had the ad- vantage of hospital practice during his collegiate studies, and took a special course in obstetriesand diseases of women and children.
On the 22d of April. 1881. Dr. Rulmann began practicing in Minster. and is now one of the fore- most physicians of the county, where he has an excellent practice and is well established in busi- ness. In the year 1881. he was married to Miss Isabel Selimieder, a native of Minster. Iler father. Hon. J. P. Schmieder, was one of the earliest set- tlers and most prominent citizen- of Minster. where he resided for many years. He was a physician of acknowledged ability. and his death, which oc- curred in 1887, while he was serving his second term as State Senator, was widely mourned a- a public loss. Mrs. Rulmann died on the 19th of February. 1886. Two children were born to this union. Albert II. and John P. (deceased).
Dr. Rulmann'ssecond marriage occurred in 1888. his wife being Miss Josephine Vogel-ang, who was born in Minster, and whose parents. Fred and Elizabeth Vogelsang. were carly settlers of that place. where they reside at the present time. Two children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Rulmann. Clarence and Herbert. In political preference. our subject is a Democrat and a stauch advocate
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of the platform of that party. For the past four years be has been Health Officer of the town. Ile and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. In 1881. he established a drug store in Minster (the only one in the village), and has occupied his present fine building sinee 1889. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the Rulmann Milling Company. of which his father is President, and he is one of the most enterprising and thorough-going men of the place.
G EORGE GARWOOD is one of the most sue- cessful and substantial business men of Rush Creek Township, and now resides at Big Springs, Logan County, Ohio, where, in con- neetion with farming. he is also engaged in the sa w- mill business, which consists of planing and bending works, also located at Big Springs, whither he moved it from his farm many years ago. His son Willie is in partnership with him and they are doing a large business. They also own a hardware estab- lishment. in which they furnish finishings for houses. Mr. Garwood has been one of the leading business men of the township for many years and is deservedly popular, bearing an excellent repu- tation for honesty and uprightness.
Our subject first saw the light of day in East Liberty, Perry Township, Logan County, Ohio, in the first house erected in the village, November 11. 1823, and is the son of James and Jane (Smith) Garwood. natives of the Old Dominion, the father being born in Culpeper County in 1800 and the mother in 1790. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Judge Levi Garwood, was a native of Vir- ginia and it is supposed that he was reared in that State. In 1812, he came direet to Logan County, Ohio, and located in Perry Township among the first settlers. His father, Thomas Garwood. was a native of England and came with two brothers to Virginia at a very early date.
at what is now East Liberty, and began housekeep- ing in the building where our subject was born. The father was a miller and took charge of the first mill in the county, remaining there about three years. Ile then moved three-quarters of a mile east of that village, located on a farm, and in connection with farming carried on a sawmill for about five years. In about 1831 he built the first carding mill in the county, located on Otter Creek. in Perry Township, and carried this on for about twelve years when he moved back to East Liberty. At this place he followed farming and also worked in the mill until his death. in 1874. The mother was a widow with seven children when she mar- ried Mr. Garwood. She passed away in the year 1852.
The original of this notice was the eldest of three sons born to his parents and is now the only one living. The others were Levi and Ozero. He had limited educational advantages in youth and was obliged to walk over two miles to attend the dis- triet school. Later he attended the log school- house in East Liberty and thus obtained a fair ed- neation. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age and all his earnings went to his father and mother. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Emeline Brown, daughter of William E. and Eva (Sowles) Brown. and their nuptials were celebrated on the Ist of January, 1846. Her parents were natives respectively of Massachusettsand Vermont, and they met and were married in Canada. There they located and re- mained about six years, when they came to the Empire State and settled in Mayville, the father working at the carpenter's trade. In 1838 he and family moved to Crawford, Ohio, remained there about three years and then went to Union County. where they made their home until coming to Logan County. Both are now deceased. the father dying in 1871 and the mother in 1876, both in Rush Creek Township, this county. They were the par- ents of nine children, Mrs. Garwood being the third child and second daughter. She was born in Canada on the 17th of January, 1824, and remained with her parents until her marriage.
Following his marriage, our subject located on The parents of our subject were married in 1823. | his father's farm in Perry Township, Logan County,
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Ohio, and worked for his father for three years. Later he settled on his own farm of one hundred acres, one and a half miles west of East Liberty. and there remained fifteen years. after which he moved to Rush Creek Township where he owned another farm of two hundred and seventy-tive neres. Ile built a sawmill here and operated this in connection with his agricultural pursuits for four years. when he moved the mill to where it now stands. at the Big Spring -. Our subject moved from his farm to the village of Big Springs in 1886. but he still owns and carries on his farm. llis marriage resulted in the birth of two sons: Carlos. a native of Perry Township. Logan County. Ohio, born in 1848, is married and resides in Rush Creek Township. this county. His wife was formerly Miss Retta Outland and they have one son. Lan- con. Willie. our subject's second com. was also a native of Perry Township. Logan County. Ohio. born in 1858. He married Mi-, Mary Simpson and they have one son. Albert.
Our subject now owns three hundred and sev- enty-seven acres of land in Rush Creek Township and he and his son Willie carry on the planing- mill in connection with the sawmill and bending works. Aside from this. they also keep all kinds of house finishings and hardware. In politics. Mr. Garwood allies himself with the Democratic party. Ile and his wife are classed among the representa- tive citizens of the county and are highly regarded by all.
E DWARD C. BAUMGARTEN. Loramie Township is conspienon- for the Tentonic element which is predominant. and their superior methods in agriculture are evident in the well-kept and productive farm -. Our subject is one of the large number of German- who have here developed the resources of this region o ex- tensively. as he is the owner of a large farm in this section. and is enterprising and progressive. Mr. Baumgarten is a son of Frederick and Eliza (Si-
feral) Baumgarten, natives of Germany, where they remained until 1847. when. on the 15th of May. of that year, they sailed from Bremen and after a voyage of seventy-four days landed in Quebec, Canada. From there they went to Cin- cinnati, thenee to Piqua, and on the 16th of Sep- tember the family landed in Loramie Township. Shelby County. Ohio. The father purchased eighty acres of wild land. erected a small log cabin on it. and here he and his family resided until 1854. when he moved to Piqua. this State. There his death occurred in 1886. when eighty-four years of age. lle served in the army in Germany. and in his religious views was a Lutheran. His wife passed away in 1870. Nine children were born to this worthy couple. only five now living.
Edward Baumgarten. the third in order of birth of the above-mentioned children. was born in Ger- many on the 6th of October. 1830. and received his education in his native country. attending school every school day from the age of seven to fourteen. By his early training he became familiar with the duties of the farm. and he remained at home and assisted in developing the home place until twenty-six years of age. In 1856, he started out to fight his own way in life, and for some time worked out by the month. Three years later. he rented land and engaged in tilling the soil. con- tinuing this on rented land for sixteen years. AI- though he met with many discouragements and drawbacks. the sturdy German blood in him showed itself, and by his perseverance and industry he became the owner of a good farm in 1860. After spending one winter on this, he sold it. and then purchased other farms, which he sold during the next few years
In 1869. Mr. Baumgarten purchased his present farm on section 24. Loramie Township. it being partly improved. On this he located in 1872. and since then he has made many first-class improve- ments, good buildings. fences, etc. and is one of the most thorough-going. wide-awake men of the county. He has a good brick residence anda -nb- stantial bank barn. all the result of indomitable energy and perseverance. In 1861. he was mar- ried to Miss Johanna Mader. a native of Germany. who came to America with her parents in 1845.
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They settled in Loramie Township, this county, and here the father and mother passed the remain- der of their days. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Baumgarten was the eldest of the girls, and seven are now living.
Although Mi. and Mrs. Baumgarten's union has not been blessed by the birth of any children, they adopted two, a boy and girl, reared both to ma- ture years and saw them married. In politics, Mr. Baumgarten is independent and votes for the best man. He served two terms as Trustee and has held other local positions, filling all with credit and to the entire satisfaction of the people. Ile and his wife are Lutherans in their religious views. They have one hundred and forty acres of land, one hundred acres of which are improved. and three thousand rods of tiling are on the place. In connection with farming, he raises considerable stock, and although he started out to battle his own way in life without a cent, he has met with the best of success and is one of the county's most substantial farmers.
ILLIAM KINZER EMERY. Among the sons of Pennsylvania who have brought with them to this Western land sturdy in- dependence and the thrift and energy of those of that nativity is William K. Emery, who, although young in years, is one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of Harrison Town- ship, Logan County. Hle comes of an old and prominent family and was born in Lancaster County, Pa., on the 22d of February, 1854.
James Emery, father of our subject, as well as his grandfather, Peter Emery, were natives of the Keystone State, in which they carried on agricul- tural pursuits all their lives. In connection with farming, at which he was unusually successful, owning three large farms, the grandfather also kept a distillery and was a man of excellent business acumen. He was a substantial and wealthy citizen and died in his native State when ninety-three
years of age. James Emery, his son, was born in Chester County on the Ist of March, 1818, and followed agricultural pursuits there until 1854, when he moved to Harrison Township, Logan County, Ohio, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he made many improve- ments. Later he moved to Bellefontaine, lived re- tired for six years, and died when sixty-four years of age. Ile was a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church for some time before his death, and was a man highly esteemed by all. lle was a Republican in politics and was Justice of the Peace of his township for some time.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Eliza A. Eagle, was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born on the 23d of January, 1818, and of her union with James Emery seven children were born: Elmina J., Cyrus E. (deceased), George E., Olivia E. (deceased), Lonis T., William K. (our subject) and James L. (deceased). The mother, who had been a consistent member of the Presby- terian church for many years, died when a little over fifty years of age. Her father, George Eagle. who was a native of Pennsylvania, so far as known, and who came of German parentage, was a carpenter hy trade and followed that business until his death when eighty-five years of age. Ilis wife was of Irish extraction.
Our subject was brought by his parents to Logan County, Ohio, the April following his birth, and after attaining a suitable age attended the district schools in winter but during the summer season was actively engaged in assisting his father on the farm. On the 10th of January, 1878, he was mar- ried to Miss Arah Lee Wellman. who was born in Harrison Township, this county, on the 23d of December, 1859. Five children were born to this union as follows: Wilbert S., Harry W., Mary L., an infant, and llelen May, all deceased. At the death of his father, Mr. Emery fell heir to the home place. He has one hundred and sixty aeres. all under cultiva- tion except thirty acres, and is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He keeps a great many cattle, horses aud Merino sheep and his principal erops are wheat and corn. His frame barn, which is one of the best in the township, cost him about $2,000 at the time of its building, and
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SCALES
RESIDENCE OF W. K. EMERY, SEC. 21., HARRISON TR, LOGAN CO., O.
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is a bank barn, 40x60 feet. Mr. and Mrs. Emery are members of the Lutheran Church at Bellefontaine. Ile is a Republican in polities and served as Town- ship Trustee for nine years and for the past seven or eight years has been Road Supervisor, holding that position at the present time. Ile is a prosper- ous young farmer and is bound to make a snecess of his calling.
On another page will be found a view of the comfortable home and rural surroundings on Mr. Emery's place.
J OIN KELLER, the popular Clerk of Au- glaize County, is what is commonly called a self-made man. as they usually oceupy high positions, both in National and State affairs, and reach higher positions in the commercial world than those whose childhood was surrounded by every opportunity. Ile was born in Miamis- burgh, Montgomery County, this State, June 24, 1830, to Joseph and Maria ( Zwier) Keller, the former of whom was a native of France, and the latter of Lebanon County, Pa.
The father of our subject emigrated from his native land to the United States when twenty- eight years of age. Ile was a carpenter by trade. and, locating in the above-named county in Penn- sylvania. there met and married his wife. The young couple subsequently removed to this State and made their home for some time in Miamis- burgh. where the father prosecuted his trade. In 1836, he moved to Allen County, now Auglaize County, and. locating in Wapakoneta. there de- . business acumen. and is one of the foremost busi- parted this life in 1847.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Keller were the parents of eight children, two of whom are now living. . the brother of our subject being Henry S. Keller, who makes his home in Nebraska. John of this sketeh was reared to manhood in Wapakoneta, and prose- euted his studies in the best schools which the lo- cality afforded at that time. When starting out
in life for himself, he acted as a clerk for a num- ber of years, which occupation he followed when removing to St. Mary's in 1849. He later was given the position of Station Agent for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. which he represented for fourteen years.
Mr. Keller was elected to his present office in 1888, and so well did he perform its duties that he received a re-election the following term. While a resident of St. Mary's, he was Township Clerk for a period of twelve years. and by his honest and straightforward life was highly re- garded. He deserves great praise for the interest be manifests in public affairs, and isa willing con- tributor to all worthy causes.
In October, 1855, he of whom we write and Miss Rebecca Armstrong were united in marriage, and to them has been born a family of two sons and one daughter, namely: Charles 11., Harry A. and Maud E. Mr. Keller is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and is an ardent member of the Democratie party. whose principles he takes great pride in supporting. His wife is an active member of the Congregational Church, and they number their friends among the best residents of the county.
OHN W. THATCHER, a prominent grain- buyer and lumberman at De Graff, Ohio, is a self-made man, and what he has accum- ulated in the way of this world's goods is the result of his own good fighting qualities. He is possessed of unusually good judgment, excellent ness men of the county. Ile was born in Greene County, Ohio. November 29. 1841, and is the son of Absalom and Isabella ( ledges) Thatcher. na- tives of Virginia. The father was of English- Irish. and the mother of English-German, extrac- tion.
Absalom Thatcher followed the occupation of a farmer until 1831. when he came to Greene County.
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Ile settled on the Little Miami River, a few miles from Nema, and operated a sawmill, a very ex- tensive one for the time, and continued this a number of years. He also owned a stone quarry. From there. he removed to I'rbana, Champaign County, Ohio, and a short time later to St. Paris, of the same county. where his death occurred in 1851, when fifty-seven years of age. Ile was a powerfully built man, stood six feet and one-half inches in his stockings, and weighed two hundred pounds. Ile worked hard all his life and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence. Six of the twelve children born to this worthy couple were reared to . mature years and were named as follows: Samuel. Joseph. Lucinda. Jonathan, John W. and Henry C.
The original of this notice passed his boyhood days in Greene and Champaign Counties and was educated in the district and village schools, at- tending the same district school in Greene County as Whitelaw Reid, the famous editor of the New York Tribune and at present a candidate for the Vice-presidency of the United States on the Re- publican ticket. Hle recalls many incidents of their boyhood days. When nine years of age, our sub- ject removed with his father to Urbana and there attended the public schools. Later he attended the schools at St. Paris after locating there, and when sixteen years of age he worked one year at the plasterer's trade. For some time after this. he worked at common labor on the farm and was nineteen years of age when the war broke out. Filled with a patriotic desire to aid his country's cause. he enlisted in May. 1861. in Company II, Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and served faithfully and valiantly for four years and six months. Ile participated in the campaigns through West Vir- ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee. Alabama. Georgia, Mississippi and Texas, and saw as much active service as any soldier in the army. The first six months of his service were spent in West Vir- ginia and then he joined the Army of the Cumber- land and served in the Twenty-first and Fourth Corps until the close of the war. Ile took an ac- tive part in a great many battles and skirmishes, the principal being Stone River, Chickamauga, Rocky-Faced Ridge. Resaca. Kenesaw, Atlanta.
Jonesborough, Spring Hills, Franklin and Nash- ville. Ile had many narrow escapes from being killed and taken prisoner, and has every reason to be proud of his war record, for no braver or truer soldier trod the ground. He was wounded twice at Stone River, once at Kenesaw Mountain and once at Chickamauga. At the latter place. he was shot through the left arm near the elbow and was obliged to go to the hospital. The surgeons had decided to amputate the arm and had the table prepared for that purpose, when our subject recov- ered consciousness and would not allow it. Ile can now use that arm but has to be careful.
Much of the time our subject was detailed on scout duty, and while so engaged practiced a great deal of sharpshooting, being considered an expert. At Kenesaw Mountain, he and a companion were sharpshooting quite a distance from the Union line, when a rebel squad got after them and our subject's companion was captured. While running to get away. a shell burst above Mr. Thatcher's head and a piece struck him on the knee, felling him to the ground. A rebel Major in hot pursuit came upon him and was about to take him a pris- oner, when our subject gave a sudden spring and sought safety in a slough that was near. The I'nion forces coming up saved him from being captured and from being confined in Libby Prison, of which he had so great a horror that he resolved to die rather than be captured. About the close of the war, Mr. Thatcher's regiment was sent to New Orleans and across the Gulf to settle the trouble then rife in Texas, and he was mustered out at Victoria, that State, in October, 1865.
Returning home, our subjeet engaged in lumber- ing at Crayon. Champaign County, Ohio, and in 1870,under the firm title of Thatcher Bros. & Co., he embarked in the sawmill and planing-mill business. With the exception of a year or two. our subject continued at this until 1888, when he disposed of hi- interest and operated a lumber-yard, adding to that an elevator in July, 1889. Ile handles a great deal of grain and is doing a rushing business. He owns considerable town property. and owing to the fact that he only had $400 to start with at the close of the war, his success has been remarkable. He was married first in 1866 to Miss Anna Neer,
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who was born in Champaign County, Ohio. in 1839. and of the nine children born to them, seven grew to mature years and are named Alice. Cora (Mrs. Sullivan), Rosa (Mrs. P. S. Hudson), Zona, Minnie, James and Eva. Mrs. Thatcher passed away on the 26th of June, 1882. Mr. Thateher's second marriage occurred in June, 1888, to Miss Minnie Neer, sister of his former wife, and they have one child. Maxie D. Mr. Thatcher and wife and entire family are Methodists and Mr. Thateher is Trus- tee in his church. Although he takes an active interest in politics, he does not aspire to office, and his vote is ever cast with the Republican party. Ile is a Mason and a member of the Grand Army Post at De Graff.
NDREW KOHLER is an intelligent, wide- awake and prosperous farmer, making his home on section 17, Duebouquet Town- ship, Auglaize County. He is the son of John Frederick and Annie ( Foos) Kohler, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, where the father was born in 1800, and the mother Angust 11, 1803. The parents started for the New World in 1847, but the father dying while en route to this country, was buried at sea. The mother, on landing on the shores of the New World, came directly to this county and settled upon a farm in Washington Township, two miles southwest of Wapakoneta, which place was in the possession of the family until 1860.
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