OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Defiance Co., Ohio

OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

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DEFIANCE COUNTY
OHIO

BIOGRAPHIES

These biographies have been extracted from
Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899.

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NOTE: If you are interested in any of the names listed below, please contact me
and I will put it on her sooner. Thanks, Sharon Wick

* OPENLANDER, David F.
* OTIS, Edward H.

* OTIS, George K.

DAVID F. OPENLANDER, the well known and popular Mayor, as well as a leading attorney of Sherwood, Ohio, has spent his entire life in Defiance county, his birth occurring in Delaware township, December 7, 1862.
     His father, the late John G. Openlander, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and when a young man came to the New World. In Crawford county, Ohio they spent several years of their married life, coming to Defiance county in 1860 and locating in Delaware township, where the father died in August, 1886.
     The subject of this sketch is fourth in the order of birth in the family of nine children - seven sons and two daughters - and was reared on his father's farm, which now lies within the corporate limits of Sherwood. During his boyhood and youth he pursued his studies in the common schools of the locality, and after his own education was completed he successfully engaged in teaching school for five years. From 1880 until 1886 he was interested in the life and fire insurance, loan and real estate business in Sherwood and vicinity, and for the following two years was employed as chief clerk by the Ohio Construction Company, which constructed the C. J. & M. R. R. After leaving their employ he engaged in the pension business, at which he was very successful and had a lucrative practice, spending his leisure time in reading law, until 1894, when he entered the School of Law, connected with the Ohio State University, at Columbus, Ohio. He was graduated from that institution in 1896, and has since successfully engaged in practice at his present location. He is still quite largely interested in real estate, and as a business man is prompt, energetic and notably reliable.
     The rapid achievement of his native town is due more to his energy and personal efforts than any other cause, and the people of Sherwood appreciate his labors in a substantial manner. The largest and most prominent business block in town, known as the Openlander Block, erected by him in 1892, is a lasting memorial to his untiring energy and push. It is safe to say that he owns more dwellings and real estate than any other citizen in Sherwood. Although gifted with remarkable business capacity, he is not incapable of appreciating the beauties of rural life, and has a fancy for farm life, which culminated in the purchase of one of the largest and best farms of Mark township, where he may be found during spare moments supervising farm work.
     On the 13th of Jan., 1898, Mr. Openlander was married to Miss Joanna Fahy, and since then he has lived with his estimable wife in the large and commodious residence on South Main Street, which he had in readiness for the occasion. He is quiet and exclusive in manner, and conducts himself with a gentlemanly deportment which has won for him a well-earned respect from his fellow citizens.
     Since attaining his majority, Mr. Openlander has been a stalwart supporter of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public office, the duties of which he has performed with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituency. Socially, Mr. Openlander is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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