USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 24
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In evidence of the high regard in which Mr. Sly was held by those with whom he was in close association, the following lines are quoted from resolutions passed at the time of his death:
Memorial Post No. 141, Grand Army of the Republic-" An- other of our comrades has answered to the last roll call and joined the grand army beyond. Memorial Post has again had its ranks broken, and in the death of Comrade Sly this post has lost a good comrade and the community a good citizen."
American Foundrymen's Association-"The sudden removal of such a man from our association, of which he has been a mem- ber for twelve years, leaves a vacancy that will be deeply realized by all members of this and our allied associations."
Henry Deisel
N connection with industrial interests, the reputation of the subject of this sketch has been pronounced in the highest business circles for a number of years. In studying the lives and characters of prominent men in every walk of life we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that have prompted their action. Success is oftener a matter of sound judgment and thorough preparation for a life-work than it is of genius, however bright. When we trace the careers of those whom the world acknowledges as successful, and those who stand highest in public esteem, we find that in almost every case they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their diligence and perse- verance, qualities which are possessed in a large measure by Mr. Deisel. Although his life has been a busy one, his every-day affairs making heavy demands upon his time, he never shrinks from his duties as a citizen and his obligations to his community. Always calm and unassuming, never demonstrative, his life is, nevertheless, a persistent plea, more by precept and example than by publication or spoken word, for the purity and grandeur of right principles and the beauty and elevation of wholesome char- acter. He has the greatest sympathy for his fellow men and is ever willing to aid and encourage those who are struggling to aid themselves, yet in this, as in everything else, he is entirely unos- tentatious. To him home life is a sacred trust, friendship is inviolable and nothing can swerve him from the path of rectitude and honor.
The material success which has attended many of those sturdy sons of the Fatherland who have come to the United States has found a splendid illustration in the life of Henry Deisel, of Lima, Ohio, a member and one of the controlling spirits in the great tobacco manufacturing concern of the Deisel-Wemmer Com- pany, whose products are known and used in practically every city, town or village in this country. Born of a line of German ancestry characterized by strong physique and alert minds, he also possesses those other characteristic German elements, quiet, steady habits and even temperament, which have enabled him to attain success where others, with perhaps more brilliant and meteoric qualities, would have failed.
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Mr. Deisel was born on June 6, 1862, in the little province of Corhessen, Germany, and is the son of Edward and Sophia Christina (Beulow) Deisel, natives also of the same province. The family had lived in that part of the country for a number of generations, belonging to the layman class, and giving their religious allegiance to the German Reformed Church. The sub- ject's parents spent their entire lives in their native locality, and died there, respected and esteemed among their fellows. Of his ancestral history, Henry Deisel knows but little, greatly to his regret, except that the family had always been characterized as upright Christians and loyal citizens of the Fatherland. To him- self belongs the distinction of being the only member of the family to leave the Fatherland and seek a new home in this coun- try. Owing to the limited financial resources of the family, the subject of this sketch was denied the blessing of a thorough educa- tion, though through habits of close observation he has become a well informed man, being a good conversationalist on prac- tically every subject to which he addresses himself. In his youth he acquired habits of industry and never was afraid of honest, hard work. In his native land he learned the trade of cigar maker, and learned it well, still retaining his residence with his parents. He is one of five children, the others being as follows: A sister, deceased; George, who married, and is now dead, leav- ing children; William and Yustinus, who still live in their home neighborhood, are both married and have children.
In 1881, Henry Deisel went to Bremen Havre and took pas- sage on the good ship "Hoenstauffen" and after an uneventful and rather pleasant voyage of fourteen days, landed in New York City. He came at once to Lima, Ohio, with which city he has ever since been identified. Young and ambitious, he sought em- ployment at once and was soon working at his trade. He proved not only a good workman, but in many ways showed a faithful- ness to his employers' interests, so that he gained the good will of all who knew him. He was not only industrious, but was wisely economical of his income, so that, about three years after his location in Lima, he was enabled to make his first independent business venture. He had married, and, with the assistance of his wife, they began the making of cigars, their product being sold to the local trade. Henry Deisel made good cigars, a fact which soon became known among dealers and smokers, and the demand for his goods increased so that he was compelled to in- crease his facilities for their manufacture. He then opened a small shop on Main Street and continued the making of good
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cigars, finding a ready market for all he could make. In 1889, there came to Lima William J. and Henry G. Wemmer, who also were good cigar makers, besides which they possessed some cash capital. Mr. Deisel and the Wemmers met, the result of their acquaintance being that in 1891, the Henry Deisel Company was formed, consisting of Mr. Deisel and the Wemmers. The new firm began to manufacture cigars that met with popular approval and soon thereafter a factory building of some pretensions was erected, the output being correspondingly increased, so that in a short time this concern was recognized as one of the leading industries of Lima.
Among the first "leaders" put out by this company, and which were started by Mr. Diesel, was the "Oil King," followed soon after by the "Star Green," both of which quickly won their way into popular favor, and had a splendid run among refined smokers. The master stroke of their business, however, was when, in 1898, they brought out their justly celebrated "San Felice" (felicity, in English), to the excellency of which they had contributed the very best stock and the highest workmanship. The success of this cigar was simultaneous with its appearance, for it possessed real worth, and the factory was soon taxed to its utmost capacity in its production. The manufacturers never permitted this cigar to run down in quality, so that its sale kept on increasing during the years until it is now said to have had the largest sale of any cigar ever put on the market in this country, reaching the enormous figures of eighty millions annually. So constant and heavy is the demand for this cigar that the makers find it utterly impossible to keep up with their orders for it. In a purely local way, however, this great cigar has a worthy com- petitor in quality and popular favor, also manufactured by the Deisel-Wemmer Company and known as the "Stag." This cigar is made of the finest stock of any five-cent cigar on the market. Then, to meet a demand for a good higher-priced cigar, the Deisel- Wemmer Company brought out the "El Verso," which, from the day of its introduction to the public, has been a favorite with particular smokers, being now turned out by the millions annually.
The phenomenal success which attended the Deisel-Wemmer Company in the production of their goods compelled them to en- large their manufacturing facilities from time to time, and in August, 1903, the company was incorporated in its present form, with the following officers: Henry Deisel, president; William J. Wemmer, vice president, and Henry G. Wemmer, general man- ager. The business at Lima necessitated the erection of two
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great factories here, soon after which one was built at Findlay, Ohio, followed by others at Delphos, Sidney, Wapakoneta, and then the sixth and largest one now being completed at Toledo. With these seven factories the company has a capacity for the production of one hundred and fifty million cigars annually, but even with this wonderful productive capacity, such is the steady and increasing demand for their goods, they are over-sold approxi- mately seven million cigars all the time. Certainly this is a striking testimonial to the high quality of their goods and the splendid business methods under which the concern is conducted. Besides the factories mentioned, the Deisel-Wemmer Company owns a "stemmery" at Van Wert, Ohio, a number of ware- houses in the different tobacco-growing sections of the country, and they control tobacco warehouses in Cuba and the Dutch West Indies. The company employs about three thousand persons all the time, about forty per cent. of whom are men, and the rela- tions between employers and employees have always been of the most amicable and pleasant nature. Lima is justly proud of these young Germans who have achieved such a remarkable suc- cess, for their prosperity has been reflected in the business life of this city to a very appreciable extent, the concern being num- bered among the most important commercial enterprises of the locality. Indeed, the business has influenced so many localities in Ohio, that it may justly be designated as a state enterprise, rather than local, and wherever the products of the concern have gone they have advertised the enterprising city from whence they came.
Aside from his interests in the tobacco business, Mr. Deisel is allied with several other local commercial enterprises, being a large stockholder in the German American Bank of Lima, of which he is president and a member of the board of directors, and a director of the Lima Bell Telephone Company, which has several thousand subscribers and controls, under one head, the several Bell systems of this section. Every enterprise which has for its object the advancement of the city's interests in any way finds in Mr. Deisel an ardent advocate and supporter, and as a member of the Progressive Association he has been an important factor in the upbuilding and development of the city and its resources. He takes a keen and active interest in public questions and under- stands well the issues on which men and parties divide, but has himself never been a seeker after official preferment. Born in the ranks of the common people, who fight the battles and give stability to the body politic, he retains his liking for them, which
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they in turn fully reciprocate. Independent, energetic, and re- sourceful in business, a notable figure in the commercial affairs of his city, and a broad-minded citizen, with the interests of his fellow men at heart, Mr. Deisel fills a conspicuous place in the civic life of Lima and is numbered among the truly representa- tive men of his adopted city and county.
Arrogance and pride are absolutely foreign to Mr. Deisel's make-up, for, despite the splendid success which has attended him, he is still the same unassuming, genial, and approachable man as when he was struggling to make a success of his first business venture. He is never too busy to give attention to all who desire to see him and never turns a deaf ear to a worthy appeal in behalf of person or enterprise. He is best liked by those who know him best, for his character is of that consistent and positive mold that long acquaintance with him but empha- sizes in him those qualities which go to make the ideal man among men, so that the conspicuous place which he has attained in the esteem and confidence of the public has been fairly and honorably earned. Socially, Mr. Deisel is a member of the Lima Club and the Shawnee Country Club, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Deisel is of marked domestic tastes and he takes pride in his beautiful and commodious home at No. 312 South Cole Street, which is located on the outskirts of the city and which is one of the show places of Lima, owing to its attractive situation and the splendid improvements which have been made by the owner. Here, surrounded by his family, Mr. Deisel fuds his chief enjoyment and pleasure.
In 1884, Henry Deisel was united in marriage with Emma Wolf, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, the daughter of John B. and Catherine Wolf. These parents, with some members of their family, came to the United States in 1883, having fol- lowed their son Phillip, who emigrated to this country sometime in the seventies and had become a prosperous merchant in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, where he had married, reared a family, and died. The daughter Emma, Mrs. Deisel, had come to this coun- try in 1881, locating in Lima, where her parents joined her two years later. Their last years were spent in the home of Mrs. Deisel, who gave to them a daughter's loving care and attention during their declining years. Mr. Wolf died several years prior to his wife, whose death occurred when she was seventy-seven years old. They were reared in the German Lutheran faith, from
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which they never departed, living earnest and consistent Chris- tian lives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Deisel have been born the following child- ren: William, who received a good education in the Lima public schools and the business college here, is connected with the Deisel- Wemmer Company; Eva, who, like all the other children, was born in Lima, graduated from the high school here and attended Tudor Hall, Indianapolis; she is the wife of George T. Grover, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they have a daughter, Catherine; Henry B., who is married, graduated from the Lima schools and then was a student in the Michigan Military School at Orchard Lake, Michi- gan; Louise, who was educated in the Lima public schools and at National Park Seminary, near Washington, D. C., is the wife of Alfred Wemmer, of Lima, a representative of the Deisel-Wem- mer Company; Lillian Helen graduated from the Lima high school, attended the National Park Seminary, and then graduated from Tudor Hall, Indianapolis; she is unmarried and remains at home. Religiously, the members of the Deisel family attend the German Reformed Church, with which their ancestors have been identified for many generations, and they are liberal in their support of the society and its various interests. The family moves in the best social circles of the city in which they live and in their own home the spirit of genuine old-fashioned hospitality is always in evidence.
Charles Schultheis
T is with a great degree of satisfaction to us when we avert to the life of one who has made the rough path of life smooth by untiring perseverance, attaining success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur- pose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor, or of sudden, meteoric accomplish- ments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes are yet matters for the future to determine. For many years Charles Schultheis, of Lima, Ohio, has directed his efforts towards the goal of success and by de- termined continuance won pronounced prestige; but it is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this review a man who has led an active and eminently useful life and reached a position of honor and trust in the line of industries with which his interests have been allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, in tracing and recording such a life record, as the public claims a certain property interest in the career of every individual, and the time invariably arrives when it becomes ad- visable to give the right publicity. It is, then, with a certain degree of satisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touch- ing briefly upon such a record as has been that of the honored subject of this review, a native son of the old Buckeye State and for many years one of Lima's leading business men, who has de- served in every respect the large success he has attained and the high esteem in which he is universally held in the community which has for so many years been honored by his residence.
Charles Schultheis is, as his name indicates, of German an- tecedents. His grandparents were natives of Hoff, Bavaria, Germany, where the family had lived for many generations, though many details of the early history of the family are lost to the present generation. The subject's paternal grandfather, who spent his entire life in Bavaria, was a tanner by trade, and died in middle life. He was a good workman at his trade and was successful in his affairs. He was survived a number of years by his widow, both of their names being forgotten. They were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom the daughters all married and spent their entire lives in Bavaria. The two sons were Wolfgang John and John, the
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former being the father of the subject of this sketch, and the elder of the two. He was born in 1824 and was reared to the business which his father had followed, that of a tanner, as was also his brother. In 1847, Wolfgang J. came to the United States, taking passage on one of the typical slow-going sailing vessels of that day at Bremen Havre, two months time being consumed in the voyage. He landed at Baltimore, Maryland, being one of the earliest emigrants from his section of the German Empire. He was followed two years later by his brother John. The latter located at Lima, where he engaged in the tanning business from 1863 to 1871, Wolfgang being associated with him in the business during a portion of that time. In 1871, John Schultheis went to Plymouth, Indiana, where he owned and operated a tannery until his retirement from active life, his death occurring there at the age of eighty-two years. He had married and left children. Soon after landing at Baltimore, Wolfgang Schultheis came to Ohio, where he remained for a short time, working at his trade at various places until 1850, when he went to Cincinnati. This came near proving a bad move, for about the same time the ter- rible cholera epidemic of that year broke out there, through which, however, he came untouched. Subsequently he went to Piqua, Ohio, where he was employed as superintendent of a tan- nery for a few years. Later he went to Dopken's Corners, this State, where he engaged in the tanning and mercantile business, being there associated with his brothers-in-law, Messrs. Dopken and Byers. Eventually Mr. Schultheis sold his interests there and went to New Bremen, Ohio, and there engaged in the tanning business under the firm name of Kueunzel & Schultheis, continu- ing there for eight years. In 1863, he came to Lima, and bought an interest in the tanning business which had been acquired here by his brother John. The plant was located at the foot of Elizabeth Street, where a tannery had been in continuous oper- ation since 1835. From 1863 to 1871, the business was con- ducted under the firm name of W. Schultheis, when Wolfgang Schultheis became sole proprietor, running the business, with marked success until 1891, when he retired from the active man- agement of the business, being succeeded by his sons, Charles and John H.
Wolfgang Schultheis died on July 1, 1905, having during his long residence here enjoyed to a pronounced degree the love and respect of all the people with whom he mingled. He was a man of strong and rugged character, who ordered his life along the lines
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of honor and rectitude, ever enjoying the fullest confidence of all with whom he had business dealings.
Wolfgang Schultheis married, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Helen Byers, a native of Hoff, Bavaria, who had come to the United States with a sister, Sophie, locating at Ft. Wayne in 1849. Sophie became the wife of Jacob Dopken, who at one time had had been a sailor on the high seas. Mrs. Schultheis' brother, George Byers, was a shoemaker by trade. Mrs. Schultheis died in Lima in 1899, at the age of seventy-nine years. She and her husband were life-long members, since confirmation, of the Luth- eran Church, while in politics, Mr. Schultheis gave his support to the Republican party. They were the parents of the following children: George, who never married, died in 1891, at the age of thirty-seven years, having been a tanner by trade; John, who died on May 30, 1912, was for many years associated with the subject of this sketch in the tanning business, and was an hon- ored and respected member of the community; Charles, the sub- ject, is the next in order of birth; Gustave died at the age of twenty-seven years, unmarried.
Charles Schultheis was born in New Bremen, Ohio, on Sep- tember 4, 1858, and was reared under the parental roof. His education was secured in the public schools of Lima and as soon as he was old enough he began to learn the tanning business. He followed the old German custom of thoroughly learning every de- tail of a trade and he became a competent and expert tanner. He remained identified with the business until 1891, when, upon the retirement of his father, he became joint owner and manager of the business with his brother John. The business has been built up steadily through the years, owing to the splendid quality of the product and the unimpeachable business methods followed by the firm in all its transactions through the various changes in the firm personnel. From twenty-five to thirty people are employed and the output averages about three hundred hides a week, for which there is a constant and steady demand, the product being sent to distant parts of the country. The firm of Schultheis has long enjoyed an excellent reputation, as have the members of the family in this community, for they have always stood for the best things in life.
Charles Schultheis was married in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to Matilda Eckart, who was born, reared, and educated in that city, being the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Linker) Eckart. Her father, who was a native of Hoff, Bavaria, Germany, came to the United States in young manhood, locating at Ft. Wayne,
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Indiana, where he married, his wife having been born in the old fort at that point. She is still living at Ft. Wayne, at the age of seventy-five years, her husband having died several years ago. He was for many years a prominent business man of that city, having conducted a large and successful pork packing business for many years. He was a Democrat in his political faith, while, religiously, he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. They were the parents of a large family, nine of whom are living, and all are married but two, though children have been born to but one of the unions. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schultheis.
Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Schultheis are prominent members of the Lutheran Church, of which he was formerly a trustee and to the various interests of which he has always been a liberal con- tributor. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks and the Shawnee Country Club at Lima. He has been successful in the accumulation of material wealth, but he has at the same time gained what is of far greater value, the good will and esteem of the entire community. He is a splendid example of the virile and progressive man who believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at all, a man of keen discernment and sound judgment, broad-minded and a follower of the highest business and social ethics. Though a busy man, he is very ap- proachable and entirely unassuming in his manner, being genial and pleasing in his address. Because of genuine worth he is well liked by all who know him.
Arthur L. dalhite
REAT achievements always excite admiration. Men of deeds are the men whom the world delights to honor. Ours is an age representing the most electrical prog- ress in all lines of material activity, and the man of initiative is one who forges to the front in the industrial world. Among the distinctive captains of industry in the city of Lima, a place of priority must be accorded to Arthur L. White, for to him has been largely due the upbuilding of an industry which is not only one of the most important in the city of his choice, but also one of the most extensive of its kind in the United States, while the comparatively brief time within which these great re- sults have been obtained further testify to his exceptionable ad- ministrative power and executive ability. He is in the fullest sense of the word a progressive, virile, self-made American citizen, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives, while he has made the most of his opportunities and worked his way upward from a humble beginning to a noble and worthy success. He has conducted all business matters care- fully and systematically, in all his acts displaying an unusual aptitude for successful management. Mr. White has not per- mitted the accumulation of fortune to affect in any way his atti- tude towards those less fortunate than he, and he always has a cheerful word and a helping hand for those in need. He is a most companionable gentleman and has a host of warm friends throughout the business and social circles in which he moves, for in him are combined attributes and characteristics which at once command confidence and esteem.
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