Biographies
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)

Source:
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, OHIO
and Representative Citizens
Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio
Published by Biographical Publishing Co.
Chicago, Illinois
1907

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WARD CLIFTON ZELLER, M. D., a successful physician and surgeon who is in the active practice of his profession at Rockford was born in Darke County, Ohio, Mar. 5, 1874, and is a son of Dr. B. F. and Emily B. (Bauder) Zeller.      Dr. B. F. Zeller, father of our subject, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and came to Clark County, Ohio, in boyhood, when about 15 years of age, accompanying a brother-in-law, Andrew Mouk.  He remained in Clark County until the beginning of the Civil War, when shortly after Fort Sumter was fired on, he enlisted in the 44th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and participated in many of the most decisive battles of the war, including that of Corinth.  After his army service was over he went to Iowa, where he taught school.  Later he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in the class of 1875, and then settled at Stelvideo, Darke County, Ohio, where he successfully practiced for five years.  His next location was Versailles, Darke County, where he remained several years, and then went to Texas, where he spent some years at Uvalda, returning then to Ohio.  With the exception of a period spent at Crab Orchard, Kentucky, as physician at the summer resort there, Dr. B. F. Zeller has resided ever since in Champaign County, Ohio.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Grand Army of the Republic.      Dr. B. F. Zeller was united in marriage with Emily B. Bauder, a daughter of Levi and Cynthia (Allen) Bauder, the latter of whom is a granddaughter of Gen. Ethan Allen.  Dr. and Mrs. Zeller have three sons, Henry Rush, a graduate of the Ohio Medical University, at Columbus, who is in the active practice of medicine at St. Paris, Champaign County, Ohio; F. Arthur, also a physician, graduating in the same class with his brother at the Ohio Medical University, who is located at Union City, Indian; and Ward Clifton.  The family presents the interesting spectacle of all the sons adopting the father's profession.      Ward C. Zeller after graduating from the High School at Christiansburg, entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada and received his diploma with the class of 1894.  In the following year he entered the Ohio Medical University, at Columbus, and was graduated in the winter of 1896-97.  He first located for practice at St. Paris, Champaign County, Ohio, after having taken an examination for assistant surgeon of the United States Army, which necessitated his remaining in Washington City for six months at the army museum.  Passing this examination successfully, he received an appointment in the Philippine Islands, but later resigned this office and returned to St. Paris.  His rank while in the service was that of 1st lieutenant, with the salary and allowances of that rank.      Dr. Zeller continued to practice at St. Paris until 1905, when he turned his patients over to his brother and, after assisting his other brother to establish a practice at Union City, left there in July, 1905, and came to Rockford.  He found here a hearty welcome.      In 1892 Dr. Zeller was married to Jennie Smith, who resided at No. 51 King avenue, Columbus, and is a daughter of John and Sarah Smith.  The mother of Mrs. Zeller was a Gregg, a grand-niece of General Gregg, of the Confederate Army, and a member of the prominent Gregg family of Bourbon County, Kentucky.  The father of Mrs. Zeller served in the Union Army during the Civil War.      Dr. and Mrs. Zeller have two sons: Arthur Clifton, aged 13 years; and Harold Nye, aged 11 years.  Both are bright, intelligent youths and it will be interesting to note, in their future careers, whether they inherit the professional leanings of father and grandfather.      In political sentiment, Dr. Zeller is a Republican but is too much occupied with professional duties to permit of much activity in public affairs.  He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at St. Paris and to the  Sons of Veterans camp at Christiansburg.  He possesses the personality of a physician and wins confidence in the sick room and hearty esteem among his fellow-citizens. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 298

Mr. and Mrs. John Zenz & Family Residence of John Zenz

JOHN ZENZ, a well-known citizen of Sharpsburg, a general merchant and dealer in farm implements, was born at Sharpsburg, Mercer County, Ohio, October 12, 1876, and is a son of George and Barbara (Friedman) Zenz.      Both parents of our subject were born in Germany.  The father accompanied his mother and step-father to America, when he was a child of seven years.  They settled on a farm in Lorain County, Ohio, 12 miles from Cleveland, and there George Zenz was reared.  After his marriage he came to Mercer County and in 1867 settled in Gibson township, where he bought 63 acres of land.  He had established himself in a mercantile business in 1862, which he operated until 1885, when his wife took charge of the store, and he devoted his attention to farming.  He continued to acquire land until he owned 430 acres which he so divided that each of his three sons received a fine farm.  The three children of George and Barbara Zenz were:  George, deceased in 18904 at the age of 39 years, who married Mary Shafer and is survived by four children, residents of Gibson township; Peter, residing on his valuable 154 acre farm in Gibson township, who married Rosina Plas and has three children; and John, who is the subject of this sketch.      John Zenz attended school at Sharpsburg until he was 13 years of age, although he was only 10 years old when he began a little business enterprise of his own, this being the running of a huckster wagon, which he continued, off and on, for some four years.  As soon as he left school he began to assist his father in the store and then went to work for his father on the farm.  When about 19 years of age he left the farm and devoted himself entirely to she retired and he took full charge.  He carries a large stock of goods and they are so well selected that he enjoys patronage from a radius of 20 miles, having a large trade.  His excellent and varied stock, combined with his honorable and straight-forward methods of dealing, have secured him public confidence.  He enjoys a large trade in farm implements and machinery.      In 1899, Mr. Zenz, was married to Rosa Brrandwie, a daughter of Bernard Brandwie, and they have four children - Clara, Martha, Otto and Richard.  Mr. Zenz and family belong to St. Paul's Catholic Church oat Sharpsburg.  A group picture of Mr. and Mrs. Zenz and their family, and a view of their large cement block residence, which Mr. Zenz erected in 1905, are shown on pages in proximity to this. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 425

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