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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
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ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO
HISTORY & GENEALOGY
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
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DAVID S. ADAMS, farmer, P. O. Kempton, was born
in Warren County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1849; son of Lamyan, a
native of Kentucky and an early settler of Warren County, and
Maria (Stewart) Adams, who was born in New Jersey. Of
their eight children, David S. is the sixth. Our
subject, when ten years of age, came to this county with his
parents; was raised on a farm, his education being limited to
what he could obtain in common schools. HE has always
followed agricultural pursuits. He entered upon his career
in life with nothing, but by habits of industry and economy, has
gained a goodly portion of this world's goods. He is
always interested in public improvements, and gives aid to all
as far as his circumstances will permit. Mr. Adams was
married Mar. 3, 1869, to Miss Margaret Emiline Clark,
born in this county Jan. 12, 1854, died July 23, 1884. To
them were born six children, two of whom are deceased - Laura
and Alonzo. Those living are John Quincy,
Forest Dell, Clarence and Samantha. Mr. Adams
is an enterprising farmer, a good neighbor, highly esteemed by
his friends.
(Source #2) |
CHARLES
H. ADGATE, farmer, P. O. Lima, was born in Shawnee Twp.,
this county, Dec. 11, 1844; son of Charles H. and Mary
(Carlisle) Adgate, former a native of Connecticut, latter of
Trumbull County, Ohio. His paternal grandfather, John
Adgate, was a native of Connecticut, and among the first
settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio, and his maternal
grandparents. David and Margaret (Galbraith) Carlisle,
were natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Trumbull
County, Ohio. His parents came to this county, in the fall
of 1834, and settled on the farm in Shawnee Township, now
occupied by Henry C. Adgate, which they cleared and
improved. Charles H. Adgate, Sr., who was associate
judge of this county in 1844, died Oct. 12, 1854, aged
fifty-seven; his widow still resides on the old homestead.
They had seven children: Margaret A. (deceased), Henry
C., Hart C., Gouveneur H. (killed at the battle of Corinth,
Miss., in the late war of the Rebellion). Charles H.,
and two infant sons (deceased). Our subject was reared
on the old homestead and was educated in the common schools.
He was in the late homestead and was educated in the common
schools. He was in the late war of the Rebellion having
enlisted in April, 1864, in Company D, Fifty-fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, Fifteenth Corps, Second Brigade, Second
Division, under John A. Logan; was in the battle of
Resaca and the chief engagements in the Atlanta campaign; was
seized with typhoid fever near Marietta, Iowa, and remained in
the hospital three months, rejoined his regiment in North
Carolina on its return from the march to the sea, and was
honorably discharged at Little Rock, Ark., in July, in July,
1865. He then went to Kansas and engaged in freighting
grain across the plains one year. After which he located
in Delphos, this county, where he embarked in the produce
business. He then went to Sidney, Ohio, where he published
the Sidney Journal two years, in partnership with D.
M. Bliss. In 1870 he engaged in farming again, and has
been located in Shawnee Township since 1875. Mr. Adgate
is a member of the K. of P. In politics he is a
Republican.
(Source #2 - Page 784) |
Jackson Twp. -
JOHN AKERMAN, farmer, P. O. Herring.
The father of our subject, William Akerman, was born in
Cumberland County, Penn., Apr. 17, 1810, and came to Perry
County, Ohio, with his parents when but five years of age.
On arriving at maturity he removed to Morgan County, Ohio, where
he lived till 1834 when he came to this county and entered 120
acres of wild land, placing the same under cultivation; he
also added other land, and at the time of his death owned 254
acres. He held several offices of trust in the township
and filled the office of county commissioner four full terms.
He was a son of John and Nancy (Baird) Akerman of
Pennsylvania. He was married May 9, 1833, to Miss Kezia
Carroll, who was born in Morgan County, Ohio, May 17, 1814,
daughter of Andrew and Letitia (Beech) Carroll, of
Pennsylvania. They were the parents of thirteen children:
Samuel B., Nancy (deceased), John, William H.
(deceased), Maria J., Andrew J. (deceased), James M.,
Mary S., David C. (deceased), Albert J., Newton, Letitia
(deceased, and Kezia. Mr. Akerman had one
brother, John, and two sisters, Maria and Jane.
He died Oct. 9, 1878. Mrs. Akerman had three
sisters - Margaret, Sabina and Ruth. John
Akerman, the subject of this sketch, was born May 12, 183,
in Allen County, Ohio, and has always been a farmer. He
enlisted in Company I, Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
was under command of Gen. Sherman nearly four years
taking part in all general engagements from Pittsburg Landing to
the close of the war; was promoted to sergeant in May 18, 1863;
first lieutenant in September, 1864, and had command of a
company till mustered out. He was a charter member of
Dexter Gilbert Post, No. 206 G. A. R.; is a member of Sager
Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the P. of H.; he a member of the
Christian Church, and president of Northwestern Ohio Christian
Conference. For four years Mr. Akerman was township
trustee in Hardin County, where he lived from 1865 till 1872,
and the following nine years he lived in Paulding County, Ohio,
where he improved a farm of forty acres; was trustee five years
and justice of the peace three years, and land appraiser one
year. Mr. Akerman married Oct. 31, 1858, Sarah
A., daughter of Christian and Eve (Stumbaugh)
Fister, born in Perry County, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1850. To
this union were born ten children: Norton, William N.,
Emma M., Eugene, Charles H. (deceased), Loren E., John J.
(deceased), Junetta, Newton and Cora. Our
subject in politics is a Democrat.
(
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 601) |
CAPTAIN
JOHN AKERMAN, one of the most gallant soldiers of the
late Civil war and now a prominent farmer of Jackson township,
Allen county, Ohio is a native of the county, was born May 12,
1838, and is of sturdy German descent, his paternal
great-grandfather having been the first of the family to come to
America. John Akerman, son of this hardy immigrant
and grandfather of our subject, was a thrifty farmer of
Cumberland county, Pa., where he married Miss Nancy Baird,
and later came to Ohio, settling in Perry county, where he and
wife passed their pure and simple lives, both dying in the faith
of the Presbyterian church - the father, in his politics, being
a democrat.
William Akerman, son of
John and Nancy (Baird) Akerman, and the father of our
subject, Capt. John Ackerman, was born in Cumberland
county, Pa., April 17, 1810, and was but five years of age when
brought to Perry county, Ohio. There he grew to manhood,
when he went to Morgan county, and met and married, May 9, 1833,
Miss Keziah Carroll, who was born in Morgan county, May 17,
1814, a daughter of Andrew and Letitia (Beech) Carroll,
who came from Pennsylvania and were the parents of the unusually
large family of thirteen children, viz: Sam B., Nancy
(deceased), John, William H. (deceased), Maria J.,
Andrew, (deceased), James M., Mary S., David
(deceased) and Keziah. In 1834, William Akerman
came to Allen county, entered 120 acres of land in the forests
of Jackson township, and, being an industrious, intelligent, and
skillful woodsman and farmer, was successful in bringing this
tract under cultivation and in adding to it until he accumulated
254 acres. He was very popular with the democratic party,
held all the township offices, and for four full terms filled
the office of county commissioner, and it was during his
incumbency of the last-named office that the first county
infirmary was established.
William Akerman had one brother John, and two
sisters, Maria and Jane; Mrs. Akerman had three
sisters, Margaret, Sabina and Ruth, and these
constituted all the members of their respected families.
When William Akerman came to Allen county, in
1834, he and his wife, with their first born babe, were conveyed
hither in a wagon drawn by a small yoke of oxen, which, with a
cow and $10 in cash, constituted his worldly possessions.
The use he made of this small capital has already been
explained. He taught a few terms of school after his
arrival, more as an aid in the education of the children of his
neighbors than for any pecuniary profit to be derived therefrom.
Although he had accepted the publici position named above, also
as a matter of public duty, he steadfastly refused to accept a
nomination for the office of representative of this county in
the state legislature. He was a master Mason and a charter
member of Sager lodge, No. 513, and a member of the Patrons of
Husbandry. He and wife were also charter members of
LaFayette Christian church, in which he was a deacon, and was a
trustee during the erection of the church edifice of that place.
In this austere faith his wife passed away February 27, 1887,
and he October 9, 1878.
John Ackerman, the subject proper of this
biography, was thoroughly trained to the vocation of farming and
had his thews and sinews developed to the arduous labor
necessary to the development of a frontier farm. At
the age of about twenty years he married, October 31, 1858,
Miss Sarah A. Fisher, who was born in Perry county, Ohio,
September 15, 1840, a daughter of Christian and Even (Stumbaugh)
Fisher. Christian Fisher was for over thirty years a
resident of Perry county, and in 1855 came to Allen County and
became quite a wealthy farmer. He was a democrat in
Politics and a faithful member of hte Lutheran church, in which
faith he died August 21, 1864, and February 1, 1887, was
followed to the grave by his faithful wife, who died in the same
faith. To the union of Christian and Eve Fisher were born
the following children:
Joseph; Margaret, wife of Jackson Zartman; Mary,
deceased wife of Sam Akerman; Charles; Sarah A., Mrs.
Capt. Akerman; Catherine, Hanah, Frank and William, all four
deceased. To this union of Capt. Akerman and his
wife have been born ten children, named as follows:
Norton J., William N., Emma M., Eugene, Charls H. (deceased),
Loran E., John J. (deceased), Junetta, Newton and
Cora - the last named also deceased.
John Akerman, while yet a young married man,
enlisted at LaFayette, Allen county, January 4, 1862, in company
I, Forth-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was under Gen.
Sherman nearly four years, campaigning in the states of
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He fought at
Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), siege of Corinth, siege of
Vicksburg, Jackson, siege of Knoxville, at Missionary Ridge,
through the entire Atlanta campaign, at Dalton, Resaca, Dallas,
Kenesaw Mountain (at which point he had four rifle balls shot
through his clothing and cartridge box in the grand assault),
against Hood
in his first sortie from Atlanta, at Jonesboro (Ga.), at Lovejoy
Station, at Griswoldville, Savannah, Bentonville, and at every
historical event in which his regiment took part. He was
in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and was a witness of
the fact that Gen. Sherman refused to shake the
proffered hand of Secretary Stanton, while passing
the grand stand. The line of promotion of privilege
Akerman for faithful attention to duty and meritorious conduct
in face of the enemy was as follows: To sergeant in May,
1863, at La Grange, Tenn., at which point he was lying
dangerously ill in hospital of congestive chills; having
veteranized at Scottsboro, Ala., January 4, 1864; he was
commissioned first lieutenant, September 7, 1864, and, having
had the command of his company thereafter, was brevetted
captain. He was first honorably discharged December 31,
1863, at Scottsboro, Ala., not for the reason that his term had
expired but that he intended to re-enlist; next, he was
honorably discharged on the seventh day of September, 1864, at
East Point, Ga., on account of being commissioned first
lieutenant, and finally honorably discharged, July 22, 1865, at
Louisville, Ky., for the reason that the war had come to a
close.
Capt. Akerman was a charger member of
Dexter-Gilbert post No. 206, G. A. R.; is a member of Sager
lodge, No. 513, F. & A. M., of which he had been the worshipful
master, and is a member of Jackson grange, P. of H. At the
first re-union of his regiment, held at Van Wert, Ohio,
September 10, 1879, he was chosen first chairman. While a
resident of Washington township, Hardin county, Ohio, where he
resided from 1865 until 1872, he was township trustee and after
his removal to Latty township, Paulding county, he was trustee
for five years, justice of the peace three years, and land
appraiser one year. In 1879 he was elected county
commissioner from Jackson township, Allen county, and filled the
office six years, and during his terms the county infirmary was
remodeled and the county children's home was built at a cost of
$50,000, and a large room added to the courthouse.
Capt. Akerman is a member of the Christian church and has
served as president of the Northwestern Ohio Christian
conference. He is a member of the George A. Taylor
command of Union Veterans at Lima, Allen County, Ohio. He
has a farm of eighty acres, formerly belonging to his father,
delightfully situated one mile east of LaFayette, Allen county,
and improved to the utmost in every respect, and here he is
passing away his days - one of the most honored men of Allen
county.
( Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van Wert
Counties, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 ) |
AUGUST
ALBRECHT, farmer, P. O. Lima, is a native of Stadt
Aldendorf, duchy of Brunswick, Germany, born Mar. 2, 1822, son of
Carl and Joanna (Fine) Albrecht, of whose family only four
survive; Amelia, Joanna, Ferdinand and August.
Our subject, who was the only member of the family to come to
this country, arrived at Boston, Mass. in 1848, and there lived
until 1861, then came to Ohio, and lived in Amanda Township, Allen
County until 1866, when he again moved to Boston, and resided
there until 1879, when he came to Ohio for second time and settled
at his present home in German Township, this county. He
followed sugar-refining for several years, but now gives his
attention exclusively to farming. Mr. Albrecht was
married, May 28, 1853, to Mrs. Eliza (Schiel) Haase, of
Boston, Mass. (widow of Conrad Haase, by whom she had
one son John, now a resident of Sidney, Ohio, and to this union
were born three daughters and one son: Nettie, Carrie, George
A. and Lizzie, all now living. Mrs. Albrecht
died Oct. 16, 1881. She was a native of Bavaria, and born
Feb. 18, 1823. Her father died in his native country, and
her mother and sisters came to America and settled in Boston,
Mass. (Sophia, who now resides in Lima, Ohio, is the
only one of the family now living). In politics Mr. Albrecht
is a Democrat.
(
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885) |
MADISON
W. ALEXANDER, farmer of Marion township, Allen county,
Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the late Civil war, was born in Lima,
Ohio, November, 1838, and is of Scotch and Dutch descent. His
paternal great-grandfather, coming from Scotland, settled in
South Carolina, and of his children one of his sons fought in
the patriot army during the Revolutionary war and one adhered
the cause of his king.
John Alexander, the grandfather of our subject, was
born in South Carolina, was there a slave-owner, but in an early
day left his native state and became a pioneer of Greene county,
bringing his family with him, his children being John, George
W., Isabella, one whose name has lapsed from memory, and
Bell. Mr. Alexander was a lawyer by profession, was a
member of congress, and a prominent resident of Xenia, Ohio, in
his early days, and there died at a very advanced age. John
Alexander, son of the gentleman above named and father of
Madison W., the subject proper of this memoir, was born in
Xenia, Ohio, was a graduate of Yale college, Mass., and a
Methodist minister of considerable note. He married Eliza M.
Hoover, daughter of Josiah and Caroline (Adgate)
Hoover—the Hoovers being of Holland origin. The Rev.
John Alexander was a pioneer of Northwestern Ohio, early
preached at Saint Mary's mission in Auglaize county, was a
colleague of Rev. James B. Findlay, and after retiring
from the ministry was one of the first clerks of Allen county.
He died in middle life, leaving three children—Caroline,
Madison W. and Isabella. Madison W. Alexander
was engaged in farming until his enlistment, April 19, 1861, in
company A, Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three months,
receiving an honorable discharge at Lima, July 23, 1861. In
September, 1861, he again enlisted, entering company B,
Eighty-first Ohio infantry, for three years. He afterward,
having filled out his term, veteranized, received a thirty-day
furlough home, and served until honorably discharge at Camp
Dennison July 25, 1865. Among the many battles in which he
took part were Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Atlanta, Resaca, Buzzard's
Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro and others, and was then with
Sherman on the great march to the sea, fought at Bentonville,
went clear through to the culmination, and took part in the
grand review at Washington, D. C. His military record, it may be
said to his honor, is as long as that of any volunteer from
Allen county. September 24, 1885, Mr. Alexander
married, at Elida, Ohio, Miss Mahala Sherrick,
who was born November 27,. 1853, a daughter of Samuel and
Barbara
(Stemen) Sherrick, and to this happy union have been
born five children, viz: John L., Cloyd, Carl H., and
Earl and Myrl (twins). Mr. and Mrs.
Alexander are sincere members of the United Brethren church
and in politics Mr. Alexander is a republican. He
has been a man of industrious habits, owns seven acres of the
homestead and eighty acres in Hancock county, and has an
untarnished reputation, both as a soldier and citizen.
(Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen
& Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 ) |
REV.
JOSEPH D. ALLEN, one of the best known and also one of
the leading residents of German township, is the son of
George W. and Patience (Lakin) Allen The father was
born in Rockingham county, Va., in 1815, and died March 16,
1879; the mother was born in Ohio in May, 1819,and is yet living
and a resident of German township.
Joseph D. Allen was born in Hocking county,
Ohio, December 6, 1838. His boyhood was spent in farming
and his education obtained in the district schools of the old
log school-house of the early day. When a boy of about
seventeen years of age he came to Allen county with his parents,
in 1856, when they located in German township. He remained
at home until twenty-one years of age, assisting in clearing up
the home farm. December 31, 1859, he was married to
Miss Catherine Shock, daughter of Peter and Mary (Boyd)
Shock, both natives of Mercer county, Ohio, May 21, 1837.
The newly married couple located in Amanda township, where they
bought fifty-three acres of timberland, erected a log house and
established their first home. Here they remained four
years, when they sold the place and bought forty-seven acres in
section No. 15, where they lived for twelve years, making many
improvements - erecting buildings, putting out an orchard, ect.
This place they sold and purchased eighty acres in section No.
32 - a partially cleared farm - on which they now live and
engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and keeping a fine
draft stallion. Mr. Miller is a stanch
prohibitionist and a member of the radical branch of the United
Brethren church, in which he has been a local preacher for the
past thirty years. Rev. Allen and wife are the
parents of six children living and seven deceased:
James R. , Amos F., Charles W., John L., all deceased;
William L., Emma T., Elmer W.; Hanson R., and Elias
K., (twins) - the latter deceased; Isaac A. and
Anna B., both also deceased; Emry F., and Patience
N., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Allen ar4e among the
most highly respected citizens of the county. As remarked,
Mr. Allen is a thoroughgoing prohibitionist and cast the
first vote for that party in German township, and has for years
been a faithful worker in the cause of temperance. He has
been a delegate to the two last state conventions and is always
on hand and active at the county conventions. He was a
soldier in the late rebellion, enlisting in May, 1864, in
company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio volunteer infantry.
His company was stationed on the Maryland side of the
fortification at Washington, and he participated near the Fort
Reno skirmish line one day and night. He was mustered out
at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, August 27, 1864.
George W. Allen, the father of Rev. J. D.
Allen, whose biography appears above, was born in Loudoun
county, Va., September 8, 1813, and was the son of Joseph and
Mary (King) Allen, who were of old Virginia stock.
Mr. Allen was one of a large family of children, of which
but six lived to manhood and womanhood. When he was eight
years old the family came to Fairfield county, Ohio, where he
grew to manhood - living on the farm - where he married, on June
23, 1833, Miss Patience Lakin, who was a native of
Fairfield county and born near Rushville, May 22, 1817.
She was the daughter of Daniel and Theodosia Lakin, who
came from Cumberland county, Pa. The father was a
carpenter, shoemaker and miller, and plied at times all of these
occupations. He died in Fairfield county. Mrs.
Allen came of a family of seven children, four of whom are
now living. She was reared in Fairfield county and
remained there two years after her marriage, and then, with her
family, came of Hocking county, Ohio, whence, after six years'
residence, they moved to Perry county, where they lived twelve
years, then returned to Fairfield county, and in the spring of
1856 came to Allen county and bought a farm of 160 acres in
German township, where they made their home and where Mrs.
Allen now lies, at the age of seventy-eight years. The
husband died March 16, 1878, a devout member of the United
Brethren church, deeply respected and loved by a large circle of
friend. A family of fourteen children were born to them:
Mary E.; James Q., deceased, died at Jeffersonville,
Ind., Jan. 11, 1865; he was a soldier in the Ninety-ninth Ohio
volunteer infantry, having served almost three years; Levi
T.; Joseph D.; Savilla, deceased; Moses; Sarah,
deceased; Samuel, deceased; was a soldier in the Civil
war and served in the Thirty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, and
was killed June 18, 1863, at Vicksburg, Miss.; George A.;
Isaac A.; Theodosia, deceased; Leander; Emma J.
and Patience A.
(Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896
) |
GODHARD
ALTHAUS, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, was born in Switzerland,
February 7, 1836. His father, John Henry
Althaus, and his grandfather, Rudolph Althaus,
were physicians. His great-grandfather, Ulrich Althaus,
a farmer and dairyman in Germany, was born in 1705, and lived to
be ninety-three years old. Our subject possesses portraits of
all these ancestors. His mother, whose maiden name was
Barbara
Gagesil, was also a native of Switzerland. Godhard
Althaus was the tenth in a family of twelve children, nine
of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. He came to America in
1854, traveled in the West for two years, and in 1859 settled in
Allen County, Ohio. In 1859 he was married to Elizabeth
Steiner, whose parents were natives of Switzerland, her father
a farmer; and to this union were born John, Barbara,
wife of Martin Grismore; Jacob, Johanna,
Elizabeth, Mary, Maggie and Albert Our
subject, who has made farming the business of his life, is the
owner of a well-improved place, comprising fifty-five acres.
Mr.
and Mrs. Althaus are members of the Mennonite
Society. He has been school director of this township.
Politically, he is a Democrat.
(Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen
& Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 ) |
JOSEPH
ALDRIDGE, farmer, P. O. Lima, was born in Jackson County,
Ohio, July 18, 1810, and is a son of Samuel and Mary A.
(Taylor) Aldridge, who settled in Bath Township, Allen
County, in 1829, where they lived until 1842, when they returned
to Jackson County, and died there. Our subject was reared
in Jackson and Green Counties, Ohio, and in 1830 came to Bath
Township, this county, where he resided about six months.
He afterward lived in Greene County three years, and in 1833
returned to Bath Township, and worked at clearing and chopping
by the month and job, up to 1835, when he purchased forty acres
of land adjoining the farm he now occupies, which he cleared and
improved, and where he lived until 1850, when he traded for the
farm he now occupies, a part of which he cleared. He also
purchased a tract of forty acres opposite, all of which he
improved and afterward gave to his son. Mr. Aldridge
was married Aug. 12, 1830, to Mary, daughter of
William and Mary (Kaufenberger) Rumbaugh, of Greene County,
Ohio, by whom he had thirteen children, of which but three
survive: Catherine (wife of D. A. Hadsell),
Mary (wife of M. Bellingar) and Cassius. Mr.
Aldridge never attended school a day in his life, but
learned to read by his own application to study. He and
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many
years. In politics he is a Republican.
(Source #2) |
PETER
ALTHAUS, one of the proprietors of the Bluffton Planing
mills, and a highly respected citizen of Allen county, springs
from sturdy German stock on his father's side of the family.
He is a son of David and Mary A. (Kilchorfer) Althaus, a
latter being of Swiss descent. David Althaus, the
father of the subject, was born in canton Berne, Switzerland,
and when about twenty years of age emigrated there from to the
United States. He settled in Wayne county, Ohio, and there
was married to Mary A. Kilchorfer, by whom he became the
father of six children that grew to mature years, as follows:
David, John, Elizabeth, Peter, Abraham and Christian.
The farm upon which Mr. Althaus settled, in Wayne
county, was at the time a complete wilderness, nothing having
been done it in the way of clearing. Thus he was one of
the pioneer settlers of that county, and gradually became one of
its substantial and prominent farmers. He had 120 acres of
good land, well improved. He was a member of the Mennonite
church, and died when eighty-six years of age.
Peter Althaus, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Wayne county, Ohio, on his father's farm, May 8, 1841,
and received the education common to the children of the
pioneers of that early day. Having learned the carpenter's
trade, he went to Moniteau county, Mo., where he followed his
trade until 1869, when he returned to Ohio, in the fall of that
year. He here engaged alone in carpentering and
contracting at Bluffton, Allen county, until the fall of 1872,
when, in partnership with Peter Oberly he erected the
present planing mill, in which this firm manufactures all kinds
of dressed lumber, doors, sash and blinds, and all kinds of
house woodwork, ornamental porches, etc. In 1883 Mr.
Oberly sold his interest in the business to P. & A.
Althaus, the firm name then becoming P. Althaus & Bro.,
and in 1886 Althaus Bros. sold to Frederick Geiger
and this firm became well-known as a reliable one throughout the
county; in 1896 Mr. Geiger sold to Althaus,
Ewing & Co.
Mr. Althaus, in 1875, married Christiana
Steiner, who was born in 1846 in Wayne county, Ohio, and is
a daughter of Christian L. Steiner. To Mr. and
Mrs. Althaus there have been born five children, as follows:
Amos J., William H., Mary E., Florence A., and Wilbur
R. Both parents of these five children are members of
the Mennonite church, and highly respected people. Mr.
Althaus is a democrat in politics and has served for five
years as a member of the school board. Mr. Althaus
owns a fine residence in Bluffton, beside other valuable real
estate in the city, in addition to his mill property. He
also owns an interest in the shoe store of Baumgartner, Eiger
& Co., and an interest in two farms. Altogether
he is one of the most substantial and reliable citizens of
Bluffton, and is highly regarded because of the known integrity
of his character and the excellence of his family.
(Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen
& Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 ) |
MICHAEL
ALTSTAETTER, farmer, P. O. Lima, was born in Monroe
Township; Allen Co., Ohio, Apr. 18, 1848, a son of Jacob and
Catherine (Bucher) Alstaetter, and was reared and educated in the
common schools of his native township. He was united in
marriage Oct. 5, 1875, with Catherine, daughter of Adam
and Anna (Art) Olt, of Germany, by whom he had had five
children: Albert G. (deceased), George J., and
three that died in infancy. In 1876 Mr. Alstaetter
located on a farm in Bath Township, this county, the most of which
he cleared himself, and on which he has made all the improvements.
He and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church.
He has been trustee of Bath Township two terms; in politics he is
a Democrat.
(Source #2) |
| CHRISTIAN
B. AMSTUTZ, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, was born in Wayne
County, Ohio, May 20, 1837; son of John and Fannie (Lehman)
Amstutz, natives of Switzerland, who came to America when
young. His father lived in Pennsylvania two years, thence went to
Wayne County, Ohio, where he was married and commenced farming,
and in 1849 settled in Putnam County, Ohio. He reared ten
children, of whom Christian B. is the seventh. Our subject
was reared on a farm, received his education in Wayne and Putnam
Counties, and early in life taught both German and English
schools. He has spent most of his days, however, farming in Allen
County, where he now resides, owning a well improved farm of 155
acres. He was united in marriage, in this county, in 1859, with
Catharine, daughter of Christian and Barbara
(Hilty) Lugibihl, natives of Germany. To Mr.
and Mrs. Amstutz were born fourteen children,
ten of whom are now living: Christina, Caroline, Elizabeth,
Mary, Menno, Susanna, Christian, Edwin, Helena and
Levina. Our subject and wife are members of the Mennonite
Church. In politics he is a Democrat. |
CHRISTIAN
U. AMSTUTZ, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, is a native of France,
born August 28,1829,and is next to the youngest of the four
children of Ulrich and Barbara (Clay)
Amstutz, the former a Frenchman, the latter a native of
Switzerland. Ulrich Amstutz, a farmer by occupation,
came to America in 1833, settling in Wayne County, Ohio, and was
one of the pioneers of Allen County, coming here in 1837. Our
subject acquired his education in the district schools of Richland
Township; learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for a
time, but has farmed for many years, and now owns 331 acres of
land. He was married, in 1854, to Fannie, daughter of
Ulrich Neuschwander and brother of Michael
Neuschwander, who was the first German settler in Richland
Township, this county. To this union were born the following
children: David and Samuel, married and farming in
this county; Christian, a student, school teacher and the
author of a Sabbath school singing book, which has a fair sale;
Barbara, Adam, Ulrich, Amos and
Ephraim. They are members of the Mennonite Church.
(Source #2) |
JOHN C.
AMSTUTZ, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, was born in Wayne County,
Ohio, December 12, 1825; son of Christian and Anna (Burkhalter)
Amstutz, natives of Switzerland, who came to America and
settled in Wayne County about 1824, former a farmer. They reared a
family of six children (three sons and three daughters), of whom
John C. is the eldest. Our subject received a common
school education in Putnam County, Ohio, where his parents moved
when most of the county was a wilderness. He used to drive the
oxen over the wheat to thresh it, and, when it was ready, had to
go many miles to a mill to have it ground. He worked from the time
he was large enough to do anything, and can remember when Richland
Township was almost covered with woods. He has been thrice
married. The children by his first wife (nee Anna
Amstutz to whom he was married March 2, 1848) were Abraham
(deceased), and Fannie, and those by his second wife (nee Mary
Ann Habegger, to whom he was married February 17, 1853)
were Isaac (deceased), Jacob and Anna (twins)
both now married, and Elizabeth (deceased). Mr.
Amstutz was married to his present wife (nee Anna
Kaufman, February 15, 1861), and to this union were born
eleven children, nine now living: Catherine (married),
Lydia, Peter, Lena, Christian, Sarah,
Noah, Gideon and Ida; Mary and
Josephine (deceased). Mr. and Mrs.
Amstutz are members of the Mennonite Church. Our subject has
had to make his own way in the world. He owns eighty acres of land
which he has cleared and improved, himself. Politically he is a
Democrat.
(Source #2) |
JOHN
AMSTUTZ, JR., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Bluffton, was
born in Richland Township, this county, February 7, 1846, son of
John and Elizabeth (Steiner) Amstutz, who were of
German descent. John Amstutz, Sr., is living, at the
advanced age of seventy-four years, in Richland Township, this
county, of which he has been a resident for over half a century,
and in which he has filled nearly every office of public trust.
His wife was a daughter of Rev. Christian Steiner,
the first Mennonite preacher in Richland Township, and who
organized the first Mennonite Church in this county. Their family
consisted of twelve children, six of whom grew to manhood and
womanhood, and who are now living: and prospering. John Jr.,
the fifth born, was raised on the farm and wisely chose the
occupation of his father, making agriculture the business of his
life, and he is now the owner of eighty acres of land. He was
united in marriage, in 1871, with Sarah Klinger, of
German descent, and a daughter of Adam and Eva (Hoffart)
Klinger. To this union were born the following children,
Lona, Paulina, Philip (deceased), and Albert
William. Mr. and Mrs. Amstutz are members of the
German Reformed Church, in which he has served as trustee. He has
been one of the school directors of Richland Township; is a member
of the I. O. O. F.: politically, he is a Democrat.
(Source #2) |
PETER
B. AMSTTJTZ, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, was born in Wayne
County, Ohio, January 6, 1846, and is the youngest of twelve
children born to (Lehman) Amstutz, natives of Germany,who
came to America in 1818, settling first in Pennsylvania, but who
subsequently moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1850 came to this
county. Our subject was reared on the farm, and taking advantage
of good schools improved his time, obtaining a good education both
in German and English. He then learned the carpenter's trade at
which he worked several years and also operated a saw-mill for
five years. He is now devoting his time to farming, having eighty
acres of land. He has been twice married, first in 1870 to
Elizabeth Lugibihl, who died in 1873 leaving one child,
Dina. Just ten years to the day after the marriage of his
first wife, he married Leah Gerber, which union has
been blessed with one son, Amos. Mr. and Mrs. Amstutz
are members of the Mennonite Church. This church has an insurance
society for protection against fire, and our subject is the
secretary of this society. In politics he is a Democrat.
(Source #2) |
SAMUEL
AMSTUTZ, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, was born in Richland
Township, this county, July 29, 1858, of German parents. His
father, Christian H. Amstutz, was a farmer, a school
teacher, and a pioneer of Allen County, where he now owns 331
acres of land. Our subject was the third in a family of nine
children, eight of whom are now living. He grew to manhood on the
farm, attended the Richland Township school, and has farmed all
his life; now resides on one of his father's farms in Richland
Township. He was married, in 1881, to Elizabeth Gerber,
by whom he has one child, Paulina. Mr. and Mrs. Amstutz
are members of the Mennonite Church. In politics he is
Democrat.
(Source #2) |
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| NICHOLAS J.
ARDNER, farmer. P. O. Landeck, was born in Seneca County,
Ohio, June 24, 1854; son of Nicholas and Susan (Adams) Ardner,
natives of Germany and early settlers of Seneca County, Ohio, and
who are now living in Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio. They
are the parents of seven children. Nicholas J., the third
child, received a common school education and entered upon his
career in life as a farmer, an occupation he has always followed.
He came to Spencer Township, this county, with his parents in
1864, and located on the farm where he still resides, and upon
which he has assisted in making the improvements. He is considered
one of the rising young farmers, highly esteemed by the community
for his many good qualities. He was united in marriage, October 7,
1879, with Miss Margaret Youngpeter, who was born in Seneca
County, Ohio, July 4, 1858, daughter of Hubbard and
Annie Youngpeter. To them have been born three children:
Louie, Edward and Lizzie. In his political views our
subject is identified with the Democratic party. |
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Arnold Twp. -
JOHN W.
ARNOLD, editor, Spencerville, was born in Hampshire County,
Va., June 22, 1844; son of Joshua and Martha (Powell) Arnold,
who are natives of and still living in West Virginia. Our
subject's facilities for attending school were limited, and he has
obtained his education by his own efforts. He was raised on a farm
and has followed agricultural pursuits most of his life, in
connection with which he has done more or less insuring. During
the late war of the Rebellion he en-listed in the Confederate
Army, in the First Virginia Cavalry, and was taken prisoner
December 22, 1862. He took the oath of allegiance at Camp Chase,
and has since made the North his home. He came to Auglaize County,
Ohio, in November, 1863, and while there served as township clerk
for four years. He was married, May 7, 1867, to Miss Matilda
Robbins, born April 18, 1849, daughter as James and Celia
(Brewer) Robbins. By this union were born ten children, five
of whom died in infancy. The living are Albert B., Loretta M..
Ray C, Elvin D., and William Clayton. In April, 1878,
Mr. Arnold came to Spencerville, and a year later purchased
the Spencerville Journal. On January 17, 1883, he lost all his
property by fire, but soon after started in business again. He
served as mayor of the town one year and then resigned. In
politics he is a Democrat. For many years he was an active member
of the I. O. O. F.
(
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 799) |
Jackson Twp.
SOLOMON H. ARNOLD, farmer and county
infirmary director, P. O. Herring, was born in Tuscarawas
County, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1843; son of Hickman and Martha (Garree)
Arnold; former, a son of Solomon and Barbara (Stonebrook)
Arnold, early settlers of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, was born
in 1820, died in 1848 (he was a captain in the Ohio National
Guards in an early day); latter was born near Bridgeport, Ohio,
and is still livint. To them were born two children -
Solomon H. and Joseph. Our subject's mother's
second husband is Samuel Fackler, by whom she has eight
children: Philip H., Catharine, Isaac, Simon, Eva, Henderson,
Samuel and Maggie Our subject was reared on a
farm and his educational advantages were limited to the common
schools. He was but four years old when his father died
and but ten when his mother again married. He remained at
home until he attained his twentieth year, then commenced
working at odd jobs. In 1853 his mother and step-father
moved to this county, locating near Beaver Dam. The first
real estate Mr. Arnold owned was 100 acres of wild land
in Paulding County, Ohio, and he paid for the same by day-labor.
In 1864 he went to Bureau County, Ill., to work in a mill, but
soon after enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth
Illinois Volunteer Infantry with Capt. E. R. Virden,
going into camp at Peoria. He was mustered into service
June 6, and eventually his regiment relieved the One Hundred and
Twenty-Second at Cairo. He took no part in active
engagements, but was busily employed as clerk in the
commissariat department and in transporting prisoners up and
down the river. He received an honorable discharge in
October 1864, and for a time worked at teh carpenter's trade.
Jan. 25, 1866, Mr. Arnold married Miss Sarah Milliken,
who was born in Richland County, Ohio, Aug. 27, 1843, and to
them were born six sons: Thomas, Ernest B., William, Joseph
F., Carrie C. and Elsworth. Since his marriage
our subject has followed the occupation of a farmer, and located
in Jackson Township, in this county. In 1871 he sold out
and purchased a farm of J. Wood, paying him the sum of
$6,000. He erected in 1882 the first brick residence in
this vicinity. He has dealt more or less extensively in
stock in addition to his other farm interests. Mr.
Arnold was a charter member of a grange which has since been
removed and is now called Rattlesnake Grange. He is class
leader of the West Point Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically he is an active Democrat. Having received the
nomination, Mr. Arnold was elected county infirmary
director at the fall election of 1883, and has since performed
the duties of the office with honor to himself and to the full
satisfaction of the people.
(
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 601) |
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ASHTON
BROTHERS - One of the well-known business firms of
Spencerville, Ohio, is that of S. L. & H. M. Ashton.
They are of English descent, their father's parents coming from
Lincolnshire, England, to America in 1831. Their mother's
parents came from Hew York state, settling in Hardin county,
Ohio, when it was but little more than an unbroken wilderness,
here endured the hardships of a pioneer life, and lived to a
ripe old age. The brothers (Ashton) were born in
Lima, Ohio, the elder in 1863 and the younger in 1867.
They were given the advantage of a common-school education, of
which they ever availed themselves to the fullest extent.
S. L. Ashton started at sixteen years of age to learn the
printing trade, and, after mastering it, went into the Merchants
National bank, where he remained for three years, and there
acquired a knowledge of banking and book-keeping. In 1885
the brothers came to Spencerville, July 1st, and took charge of
the Spencerville Journal, which was a very badly dilapidated and
practically a bankrupt concern. After resuscitating the
paper and putting it fairly on its feet, and operating it for
four years, they sold it and began casting around for another
location, but failing to find one they opened a cry-goods house,
and, although inexperienced, they operated one of teh most
successful mercantile house in Spencerville. This business
they followed for four years, when, at the beginning of
Harrison's administration, the senior brother was appointed
postmaster, which position he very satisfactorily filled for
nearly four years, when ill health compelled him to resign and
seek a change of climate, which he did, going to California and
returning greatly improved.
The younger brother, H. M. Ashton, acted as
assistant postmaster during the older brother's term of office.
Before this time they had organized the Spencerville Home &
Savings association, which became one of the champion
institutions of the town and now holds first mortgage loans,
exceeding in value $75,000. In August, 1893, the brothers
again became owners of the Spencerville Journal, and by hard
work and earnest application have made it one of the best local
newspaper in northwestern Ohio.
The Ashton brothers are enthusiastic champions
of all improvements, take an active part in public affairs, and,
being large real estate holders, their taxes practically aid in
the building up of the town. H. M. Ashton, the
junior brother, was united in marriage to Miss Minnie
Harbison, a daughter of Dr. Harbison, one of the
oldest practitioners of Allen County. He was the founder
of the Spencerville Stave factory, which gave the place its
first business impulse. The senior brother is known all
over northwest Ohio as the "Bachelor Editor," and is the butt of
many a good natured thrust at his single blessedness from the
newspaper fraternity. It is a satisfaction to write of men
who have in so pronounced a manner come to the front and
substantially remained there. As the pen is mightier than
the sword, so, too, are pluck, energy and perseverance, in
comparison with the inheritance of greatness or fortune.
(Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen
& Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 ) |
CHRISTOPHER
ASHTON, farmer, P. O. Lima, is a native of England, born
in the village of of Einton, Lincolnshire, Aug. 5, 1828, and in
1832, was brought by his parents, Francis and Elizabeth (Mackender)
Ashton, to America. They (the parents) settled in
Richland County, Ohio, where they remained a few years, and then
moved to Hardin County, Ohio, and in 1858 came to this county,
where they died. Our subject came from Hardin County,
Ohio, to this county, in 1872, and purchased a farm in German
Township, on which he still resides. He was married, in
1850 to Susan Throne, of Richland County, Ohio, a native
of York County, Penn., born Jan. 15, 1832, and daughter of
Michael and Susannah Throne, who both died in Richland
County, Ohio. To our subject and wife were born seven
children: Lewis J., Ann M. L., Mary V., Francis M., William
Mc., Charles E. and Elizabeth, all now living, except
Elizabeth. Mr. Ashton is a Democrat in politics.
(Source #2) |
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