|
BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Allen County, Ohio
Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns,
Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, etc.; Portraits of
Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies;
History of the Northwest Territory;
History of Ohio; Statistical and
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.
- Illustrated -
Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co.
1885
<
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
1885 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to GO to LIST of
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
| |
Richland Twp. -
JOHN VON GUNTEN, manufacturer of brick,
Bluffton, was born in Richland Township, this county, Nov. 16,
1856, son of John and Anna (Snitter) Von Gunten, natives
of Switzerland, and who were among the pioneers of Richland
Township, this county, where they are still residing in
comfortable circumstances, owning a well improved farm; they
have eight children of whom John Jr. is the eldest.
Our subject was reared on the farm, receiving a common school
education. When nineteen years old he commenced the
carpenter's trade, which he followed about four years, and then,
work being slack, he learned brick-making of W. M. McIndeley,
working at it for about two years. In 1880, having
accumulated enough money to start on his own account, he
embarked in his present business, which is increasing every
year, and in which he has been very prosperous. He now
owns seven acres of land in the corporation of Bluffton on which
his brick-yard is located, and also his residence which cost him
over $3,000. He makes on an average about 500,000 bricks
annually, and cannot supply the large demands for his goods,
which he ships to Lima, Findlay, and surrounding towns. In
1884 he sold 100,000 to one man alone at Lima. He was
married, Dec. 22, 1881, to Catherine Pifer, a daughter of
Jacob Pifer, a pioneer and prominent farmer of Hancock
County, Ohio. To this union have been born two children:
Orland and Tilman Grover. Mr. Von Gunton is
a member of the Reformed Church, his wife of the Lutheran
Church.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio - Publ.
Chicago: by Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 781 |
| |
Superior Twp. -
MICHAEL
A. VORNDRAN, farmer, P. O. Landeck, was born in Germany, in
December, 1839. His parents, Andrew and Margaret Vorndran, who had
a large family of whom but six boys are living, immigrated to
America in 1842, and located in Seneca County, Ohio, where Michael
A. grew to maturity. Our subject received a common school
education, and having been raised a farmer has always followed
agricultural pursuits. He was married, May 12, 1864, to
Margaret Droll, a native of Germany, who died January
31, 1879, leaving to his care eight children: Joseph,
Mary, Kate, Charles, John, Annie,
Josephine and Emma. His second marriage, January 18,
1880, was with Matilda Snyder, who was born in Seneca
County. Ohio, August 25. 1855, by whom he has one child—George
Albert. Mr. Vorndran came to this
County June 25, I860, and located in Spencer Township, on the farm
where he still resides, upon which he has made most of the
improvements, and which he has placed under a state of cultivation
which at once denotes him to be an energetic, enterprising farmer.
Mr. Vorndran is a member of the Roman Catholic Church; in
politics he is identified with the Democratic party.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio - Publ.
Chicago: by Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 814 |
. |
