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Source:
History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County
with
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
Pioneer and Prominent Public Men
by C. W. Williamson
Columbus, Ohio
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons
1905
BIOGRAPHIES
Washington Twp. -
BENJAMIN A. FLEDDERJOHANN, Democrat,
Representative from Auglaize county, was born in St. Mary's
township, May 19th, 1866. His father, H. H.
Fledderjohann, a carpenter by trade, was a pioneer settler
long before Auglaize county was created, and built locks on the
Miami and Erie canal. The elder Fledderjohann built
a sawmill at lock six, which he operated for more than fifty
years. At this place Mr. Fledderjohann the younger
spent his days at the sawmill and farm, until eighteen years of
age, when he entered the New Bremen High School. After
three years of study he graduated from this school and taught a
district school for two years, entering the Normal College of
Angola, Indiana, thereafter. In 1890 he was appointed
superintendent of the New Knoxville public schools, and held
this position for ten years, resigning in the spring of 1901.
In the same year he became a candidate for Representative on the
Democratic primary ticket and was nominated with a large
majority over two competitors. In the election of 1901 he
received the largest vote on the Democratic ticket, defeating
his opponent, R. B. South, on the Republican ticket by a
large majority, carrying his own township which is one of the
only two Republican townships in the county. Mr.
Fledderjohann is secretary and bookkeeper of the Inland
Telephone Company, and manager of the Fledderjohann
Hardware store. He is a member and earnest advocate of the
German Reformed Church, and has taken a prominent rank in the
charitable work of that denomination.
(From Biographical Annals of Ohio.)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 778 |
St. Mary's Twp. -
HERMAN HENRY FLEDDERJOHANN
was born in Lathergen, Prussia, January 16th, 1816, and died at
his home near New Knoxville, July 25th, 1904. He came to
America in 1835 and settled with his parents in the western part
of Washing township, Auglaize county. At this time the State
of Ohio was building the Miami and Erie canal, on which
Mr. Fledderjohann secured a position as a common laborer.
Displaying unusual ability in this line of work, he was raised to
the position of foreman, in which capacity he superintended the
construction and reconstruction of a number of locks along this
water way. Following the completion of the canal, he
constructed a sawmill at lock six, which he operated for nearly
forty years. Mr. Fledderjohann was a
successful business man, being interested in a number of business
enterprises. He was also one of the largest land owners in
the county. He was twice married, his first marriage being
blessed with six children, of whom only two are now living.
Twelve children were the result of his second union, of whom eight
still survive him. The children now living are
William, contractor and sawmiller; Frederick, a farmer;
Dr. Henry, a practitioner in New Knoxville;
Herman, a contractor and boat-builder, living in
southern Illinois; George, a farmer; Dr. Frederick,
a practitioner in New Bremen; Hon. B. A. Fledderjohann
Representative of Auglaize county in the Ohio General Assembly.
The three daughters are married to F. Schroer, a
farmer; William Henschen, a farmer, and
H. Dietjen, a farmer and grain dealer. The entire
family consists of seven sons, three daughters, thirty-seven
grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.
From the time of his arrival at man's estate to the day of his
death, Mr. Fledderjohann affiliated and voted
with the Democratic party. Being intensely loyal to the land
of his adoption, he believed it to be the duty of every American
citizen to vote, and emphasized this conviction on numerous
occasions during the early days by walking form his home to Lima,
the nearest voting place at that time.
Mr. Fledderjohann possessed talents above
mediocrity, a sound judgment in public affairs, and was an active
and influential man in the early settlement of the county.
Source 1: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C.
W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905
- Page 687 |
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