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 43
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 43
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 43
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Our subjeet's first work was to build a log house, erecting it himself, and then he entered with a will upon the hard task of elearing his land and pre- paring it for cultivation. By diligence and per- severance he felled the trees, removed the stumps, and placed his land under a high state of cultiva- tion. He drained it after the most approved methods, and now has it well tiled, has a substantial set of buildings on the place, which are always kept in good order, and he has increased the size of his farm to three hundred and fifty acres by buying land as his means would permit. He has always raised and sold stock, having only the best breeds, and his favorites among horses are the French Norman and Clydesdale breeds, Short- horns being his favorite cattle. He has given up
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the management of his farm now to three of his sons, dividing the land between them, and is en- joying lite more at leisure than formerly, his in- dustry and judicious management of his affairs having brought him an ample income, although he entered upon his career with no moneyed capital. but had to depend on his brain and hands for a livelihood. He is a thoroughly good citizen, takes an interest in the welfare of his adopted country, and stands with the Democrats in politics.
Mr. Knatz was married in Germany to Miss Anna E. Filling in 1853. Her people never came to America. She has been a true helpmate to her husband, who owes much of his prosperity to her active and cheerful co-operation. and coziness and comfort abide in their home through her watchful care of her household. They are blessed with four sons, George, Ilenry, John and Ditmor. The elder and two younger are engaged in farm- ing their father's farm, while Henry, the second son, is foreman in a large store in Milwaukee. Both Mr. and Mrs. Knatz are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Wapakoneta, and in their everyday lives show themselves to be Christians in word and deed.
ENRY HOLTERMAN is the editor and proprietor of Die Post, published at Wapa- koneta. Ohio, which is one of the most snc- cessful and popular papers in the county. Mr. Holterman possesses those characteristics which invariably mark the successful journalist- genial manners, taet and energy-and during the one year that he has conducted his paper. he has established it on a substantial basis. It is a breezy sheet, published in the German language in the interests of the community, and special attention is paid to local affairs, making it a history of events that transpire in this locality. Moreover. it reviews very intelligently and ably the current issues of the day. and its advertising columns are
well filled, and show that the citizens of Wapa- koneta appreciate it as a medium for making themselves known to the public.
Mr. Ilolterman was born in Brockel, Province of Hanover, Germany, November 15, 1858, to John Il. and Mary (Luedeman) Holterman, who came to America in the spring of 1870 and settled in Henry County, Ohio, where the father unfortu- nately died the same year. His widow married again and removed to Nebraska. in which State she is at present residing. She bore Mr. Ilol- terman two sons and three daughters: Henry; Mary; Anna. deceased; Catherine; and John, de- ceased, and her second union has resulted in the birth of four children. The subject of this sketch was but twelve years of age when he became a resident of the Buckeye State, and although his educational advantages were somewhat limited, he made the most of his opportunities, and much of his knowledge has been acquired by observation and self-application. Until he was seventeen years of age, he was familiar with the duties of farm life, at which age lie entered a grocery as clerk. con- tinuing to follow this occupation for several years. Hle was next employed as a salesman for the Do- mestie Sewing Machine, in which position he proved himself to be shrewd, persuasive and suc- cessful. Ile received a handsome medal for sell- ing a machine to one who was considered the stin- giest man in Henry County, the sale being made notwithstanding the threats of the wealthy tiller of the soil to have him arrested and forcibly ejected from his premises.
Discontinuing this business after four years of faithful service. he became associated in the gro- cery business with his uncle, with whom he re- mained for one year. In 1885. he was appointed Treasurer of Henry County. to fill the unexpired term of the Treasurer elected, who failed to give bond, but a short time prior to the expiration of his term of office he had made negotiations for an interest in the Ilenry County Demokrat. a paper published in the interests of the German popula- tion. Later, he became the sole proprietor of the paper. but after publishing it on his own responsi- bility for some time. he took a partner, and con- tinued its publication for two years. Ile then
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sold his interest in the plant, and invested his means in a furniture store, which occupied his time and attention for one year. He next started the publication of a German paper in Wood County, which proved disastrous financially; he also purchased the Wood County Democrat, which as well as the other left him financially embar- rassed. lle subsequently sold his interest in both papers and went to Ottawa, Ohio, where he pub- lished the Putnam County Demokrat for a time, after which he sold out to his brother-in-law. In the spring of 1891, he came to Wapakoneta, and has since published Die Post, a six-column quarto, pub- lished in the interests of the Democratic party, of which he has always been a staneh member. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he . and his wife, whom he married September 4, 1881, and whose name was Margaret Stockman, are mem- bers of the German Lutheran Church. They have three children: Ernestine, Edwin and Karl.
ASON H. MANCHESTER. Prominent in social, agricultural and church cireles is the family represented by the name at the head of this paragraph, which has long been identified with all movements of importance in this part of Auglaize County. Mr. Manchester is one of the most extensive farmers in the Buckeye State and no doubt inherits many of his excellent ideas of farm management from his father, Phil- ander Manchester, who was known far and wide for his extensive and successful farming operations.
The elder Mr. Manchester was a native of the "Old Bay State," born at Draeut in 1815, and he was a man of more than the average intelligence, having graduated from Norwich University, Vermont. He was married in 1842 to Miss Rebecca Hewitt, a native of Pomfret. Vt., and the same year this ambitious young couple emigrated to Ohio. They settled in Fredericktown, and Mr. Manchester was there engaged in merchandising until 1865. when he sold out. Three years later, he settled on an
unimproved farm in Auglaize County, this State, and immediately began clearing and improving. He improved five hundred acres of this and added to the original tract from time to time until he owned about one thousand acres of very produc- tive land, all of which he soon had under cultiva- tion. All his farming operations were conducted in a manner showing him to be a man of ex- cellent judgment, wide experience, and great per- severance, and success crowned his efforts. His marriage resulted in the birth of two children, only our subjeet now living. Both parents were members of the Christian Union Church, and, in politics, the father advocated the platform of the Republican party. His death occurred in Febru- ary, 1889. The mother is still living and resides on the old homestead in Goshen Township. Auglaize County, Ohio.
J. Il. Manchester was born at Newton, Union County, Ohio, in 1853, and he supplemented a good practical education received in the schools of Union County by a two-years course at the West Randolph (Vt.) Normal School. After this, he returned to Ohio, and having been bred to the life of a farmer by his father, like the majority of boys he has followed in his ancestor's footsteps, and is now prominently identified with the most prominent agriculturists of the State. In 1885, he was married to Miss Louisa Krebs, a native of the Buckeye State. and a graduate of the Univer- sity at Ada, Ohio. She is a daughter of Dr. Krebs, of Waynesfield, Ohio (see sketehi). Mrs. Manchester was also a student of medicine at Cincinnati. To Mr. and Mrs. Manchester was born one child. Hewitt Krebs, who passed from this life when eighteen months old. We clip the following from the Cincinnati Enquirer.
AN OHIO FARM.
J. II. Manchester, the largest and wealthiest farmer in Auglaize County, and one of the largest in Northwestern Ohio, has just closed a deal with Hauss & Jacobs. grain merehants, for the sale of 10,000 bushels of corn. This is the largest grain deal of any kind ever made in Auglaize County. Mr. Manchester has a beautiful farm of over twelve hundred acres under cultivation in the eastern part of the county. His residence is situated on a knoll. about the center of his farm,
yours truly John Braden
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and with the aid of a field-glass he can command a view of his entire farm. All of his machinery is is of the latest invention, and his reapers, mow- ers, plows, etc., are all run by steam. lle employs a large force of men, who are all well disciplined. The farm is situated in a very productive region, and his aeres yield an abundant erop. After hav- ing sold the enormous amount of corn to the grain dealers, he still has in reserve 6,000 or 7,000 bushels which are not yet ready for market. Ile will begin hauling this week, bringing in install- ments of 800 to 1,000 bushels. It will be a regn- lar train of wagons, drawn by a road engine, a very uncommon sight in any community.
Our subject has one of the most extensive farms in Ohio; has it well equipped with all the modern machinery to relieve the farmer of heavy manual labor, and he has a very fine residenee, nicely furnished and in every way very attractive. In the year 1821, this farm produced about twenty- five thousand bushels of corn, seven thousand bushels of wheat. and four thousand bushels of oats. Mrs. Manchester is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a liberal con- tributor to the same.
OIIN BRADEN. The older residents of a community are doubly entitled to the res- pect and esteem of their neighbors when their whole lives have been replete with kindness, and their careers marked by integrity and uprightness. The old resident and much respected gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, and whose portrait adorns the opposite page, makes his home on section 12. Union Town- slup, Logan County. He was born on this farm .July 31st, 1834.
Robert Braden, father of our subject, was a native Kentuckian, born in the year 1797. Ile came to Union Township, Logan County, Ohio, when a young man, or about 1815. There were very few settlers here at that time, and more Indians than white people, but he entered a farm from the Government and began to develop and
improve his place. To the log cabin he had erected on his farm he brought his bride, whose maiden name was Lucinda MeNay, and whom he had married in this county, and in a very frugal and economical way they began housekeeping. The woods were full of game, deer and turkeys abounded, and the table was always supplied with fresh meat.
This young couple cleared part of their farm in the wilderness, and as the years passed by a large family of children gathered around them, ten of whom were reared to maturity: James, Jane (deceased), Mary (deceased), Samuel (deceased), Robert. John. Lueinda, Cynthia A., Elizabeth and IIenry C. Mr. and Mrs. Braden were hard- working and economical, and soon began to gather around them many comforts and conveniences. Their marketing was done at Urbana, and although their hard work and energy brought its reward, very few of the present day realize the hardships and privations experi- enced by them and other early settlers. At first they entered eighty aeres of land, then another eighty acres, and afterward one hundred and twenty acres more, making a snug farm of two hundred and eighty acres. The father was a Whig in politics, and died in 1855.
The mother of our subject, who was a devout member of the Lutheran Church, in which she was an active worker, passed away m 1874, when seventy-three years of age. She was born in Virginia in 1801, and came with her parents to Ohio about 1808. It can be seen that she had her full share of the hardships as well as the adventures of pioneer life. She often related how the Indians came to her father's house and slept in the cabin, and she told many interesting incidents of pio- neer life. Her parents settled in Harrison Town- ship. this county, on land now owned by John Newell. Her father was a hard-working pioneer, and became a prominent and wealthy farmer of this section.
John Braden, the subject of this brief sketch, had the usual experiences of pioneer life, attend- ing the subseription schools in the log school house and assisting his father in clearing the home place. Ile early adopted farming as his vocation
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and remained under the parental roof until after the death of his father, when he conducted the home place. On the 16th of November, 1872, he married Miss Mary A. Ryan, a native of the Buckeye State, born in 1854, and to them was born one ehild, Irene. Mrs. Braden died in 1873, and in 1879 Mr. Braden married Miss Sarah Jew- ell, who died in 1884, leaving one child, a son, Elmer J.
Our subject is the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of land, and all his operations are carried on with thoroughness and dispatch. He is engaged in mixed farming, raising considerable stock, and has one mile of tile draining. Ile is a Republican in politics, with independent pro- clivities, but does not aspire to office. He has seen the city of Bellefontaine grow from a village of a few houses to its present proportions, and has contributed his share toward the development of the county.
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G EORGE A. HENRY. Within the limits of Logan County, there is no more successful farmer to be found than Mr. Henry, who is thoroughly identified with the agricultural in- terests of the same. His standing as a thorough and progressive farmer, as well as a most esteemed and respected eitizen, is well established in the county. He resides five miles east and a little north of Belle- fontaine, in Jefferson Township. Logan County, Ohio, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred and fifty acres, all well improved and well eulti- vated. Mr. Henry has resided on this farm since 1840, and was born in this county on the 9th of August, 1837, to the union of Joel and Patience (Easton) Ilenry, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, the father born in Culpeper County on the 24th of June. 1806, and the mother in Shelby County, on the 24th of June.1804.
The grandfather. George Henry, was also a na- tive of the Old Dominion and there he grew to
manhood, married, and remained until 1808, when he came to Ohio, loeating in what is now Logan County and remaining there until his death in 1836. He was of English descent. The maternal grandparents of our subject, Redwood and Mary (MeMichael) Easton, came on horseback to Ohio in 1806 and first settled in Wheeling, where they remained for a short time. From there they moved to Clarke County, Ohio, and located on a farm, but later settled in Logan County and from there went to Nauvoo, Ill., where the grandfather died in 1840. The grandmother died in 1837, in this county.
The parents of our subject celebrated their nup- tials in Logan County, Ohio, December 3, 1829, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Hanes Parker. They at once located on a farm near Zanesfield, which they improved and on which they remained for a few years, when they moved to the place on which our subject now resides. Here the father received his final summons on the 30th of November, 1855, and the mother on the 1st of November, 1891, when eighty-eight years of age. They were the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter, as follows: Margaret, wife of S. D. Elliott, of Milford Centre, Union County, Ohio; David, who married Eliza Gable and resides on part of the old homestead in Logan County, and our subject, who is the youngest.
The latter was fairly educated in the district schools of Jefferson Township, Logan County, and. being the youngest ehild, he cared for and re- mained with his parents until after their death. He was never away from his mother but three months. On the 22d of October, 1863, he was mar- ried in Jefferson Township, Logan County, to Emily Robb, the ceremony being performed by Dr. G. L. Kalb (see sketch). Mrs. Henry is the second daugh- ter of Joshua and Sarah ( Nelson) Robb, natives re- spectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, the father born on the 12th of September. 1806, and the mother on the 28th of August, 1813. Mr. Robb came to Logan County, Ohio, when a young man and was here married to Miss Nelson, who was reared in this county and in Pennsylvania.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robb, four daughters and five sons, six of whom still
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survive. Mrs. Robb died June 4th, 1892, in her seventy-ninth year. Mr. Robb died on the 21st of February. 1873.
After marriage, our subject and wife located on the old homestead where they reside at the pres- ent time, and by their industry and good manage- ment are possessed of a comfortable competency. Their happy union has been blessed by the birth of two children, both daughters: Iola Patience, born February 14. 1866, at home, and Sarah Eva, born June 30, 1869, also at home. In connection with farming, Mr. Henry is also engaged in stock- raising and keeps from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of sheep per year, be- sides other stock of all kinds. In politics, he is a Republiean and is correspondent for the Repub- lican, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and also County Ciop Correspondent of the Department of Ag- riculture under Secretary Rusk. Hle is man- ager of the Logan County Agricultural Society and has been for a number of years. Ile is a gen- ial, whole-souled gentleman and is well liked by all. IIe is a member of Silver Lake Couneil No. 352, Royal Arcanum. The family are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefontaine.
ILLIAM METZ occupies a prominent posi- tion in his county, being Superintendent of the Infirmary in Duchouqnet Township Auglaize County. Ile is a son of William Metz. Sr .. a native of Pennsylvania, where he was a well- to-do farmer. The family of that name are of German and French extraction. a son of Jacob Metz having come from Germany in an early day and located in Pennsylvania.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Furray; she was also a native of the Keystone State and a daughter of Valentine Furray, who hailed from France. The parents of our subject were married in Pennsylvania and in 1847 came to Ohio, loeating in Union Township. Auglaize County. on a wild tract of land. which, at the time of his death.
the father had improved into a good estate. They reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living. The father died in 1882, and the mother, who preceded him by a number of years to the bet- ter land, departed this life in 1869. They were both devoted members of the Lutheran Church and held in high esteem by their neighbors and ac- quaintances. The father of our subject in polities always voted with the Democratie party and in local affairs served his fellow-townsmen as Consta- ble for some time.
William Metz, of this sketch, was born December 6, 1826, in Columbia County, Pa .. where he re- ceived a fair education. When ten years of age. he began to work out, being employed in the coal mines of that region, where he was engaged until coming to Ohio in 1847, since which time he has folowed agricultural pursuits. Two years after loeating here, Mr. Metz was married to Miss Eliza, daughter of Amos Basil, an early settler of Union Township. this county. Mrs. Metz was born in 1831, in Licking County, and after her marriage located with our subject on rented property. Mr. Metz at the time of his marriage had $5 m money and when his first child was born it was eradled in a sugar-trough. lle continued residing in Union Township, working at whatever he could find to do, until his fellow-townsmen recognized in him the ability to manage the County Infirmary, and in 1873 he was appointed to the position of Super- intendent. Thirteen years ago, Mr. Metz became the owner of an improved tract of land in Clay Township. this county, and five years ago pur- chased another piece of property in the same town- ship. his landed estate now including one hundred and eighty-six cultivated acres.
To Mr. and Mrs. Metz has been granted a fam- ily of thirteen children, eight of whom are living. namely: Oliver. Granville, John, Wesley, Freder- ick, James. Jane and Mary. They have all been given excellent educations and fitted to become use- ful and intelligent citizens. Our subject has always been interested in school affairs and has done etfi- cient service as a member of the School Board. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has occupied the position of Junior Warden in that order. In politics, he votes the straight Dem-
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ocratic ticket, on which he was elected Township Clerk, Assessor, and to many other minor positions. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Metz was appointed Land Appraiser, and three years later was placed in his present position, of which he has been the incumbent since, with the exception of two years. Under his administration, a brick addition, 42x84 feet, has been added to the main building, at which time also a good barn and granary were built. The farm includes two hundred acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation, and the inmates of the institution average about twenty-six.
OLOMON E. LOFFER, one of the most successful agrienlturists of Logan County, is a man whose excellent judgment, strong common sense and good business acumen are recognized by all. Ile has a fine, large brick residence in the edge of De Graff, and is one of the foremost citizens of the place. He was born in Bloomfield Township, this county, on the 14th of November, 1853, and is a son of Solomon T. Loffer, whose birth occurred in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1814. This family is of German descent and the name was originally spelled Langher. The first members that came to America settled in Penn- sylvania, where they became prominent and suc- cessful.
The father of our subject, Solomon T. Loffer, passed the early part of his life on a farm in Pick- away County, Ohio, and when old enough to choose some calling in life very naturally chose the one to which he had been reared, farming. IIe cul- tivated the soil in Pickaway County, where he owned a good farm, nntil 1850, when he came to Logan County and purchased three hundred and fifty-five acres on Rum Creek, in Bloomfield Town- ship. The land had good improvements and he began immediately the work of cultivation. On that place his death occurred on the 22d of Octo- ber, 1853. In politics, he was a stanch Democrat. His wife. whose maiden name was Susanna Smith,
was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 7, 1815, and died in 1887. She was a member of the Reformed Church, and was of a quiet, retiring dis- position. All of the ten children born to this estimable couple grew to mature years, and were named as follows: Sarah F., wife of D. M. Strayer; Annie, wife of F. W. Strayer; Francis M., who was killed in the battle of Pittsburgh Landing; Elisha D., a soldier in the army, who died in 1879, Jacob S., a soldier in the war, who spent thirteen months in Libby and Andersonville Prisons; Chris- tina, wife of Jonathan Ray; Ellen M., who died in 1863; Christian, a farmer of Bloomfield Town- ship, this county; Samuel, in Nebraska. and Solo- mon.
Bloomfield Township was the scene of our sub- ject's early experiences and in it he received his primary education in the district schools. Later, he supplemented this by attending the public schools of De Graff for two terms and Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, one term. Subse- quently, he took a course in business college at Delaware, Ohio. and then wielded the ferrule in the schools of Bloomfield Township for five years. He also taught one term in Carroll County, Mo., in 1876. Evvie Bunker, who became his wife on the 27th of December, 1877, was born in Edgar County, Ill., on the 26th of August, 1857, and her father, Benjamin Bunker, was a well-to-do farmer of Bloomfield Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Loffer are the parents of five bright and in- telligent children as follows: Ethel, Bessie, Orvil K., Floyd B., and Amie.
Following his marriage, Mr. Loffer bought ninety-six acres of the home farm and resided on it until March. 1886, when he hired a man to op- erate it and removed to De Graff. He and his brother, Jacob .S., formed a partnership, under the firm name of Loffer Bros., to buy and ship stock, and were quite extensively engaged in the busi- ness venture, shipping cattle, sheep and hogs to Cleveland and Buffalo. In 1890, they opened an agricultural store in De Graff, but after eighteen months sold ont. In two years' time they sold one hundred binders and mowers.
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