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(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 -
*UNLESS Otherwise Noted.)
ETHAN H.
FAST, a well-known agriculturist of Hopewell township,
now serving his second term as a member of the township Board
of Education, belongs to an old family of this county. He was
born in Mercer County, Ohio, January 5, 1867, and is a son of
Abraham G. Fast.
Abraham G. Fast was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a
lad of nine years when his parents came to Mercer County and
settled in Center township. His home for many years has been
in Hopewell township, section 1.
Ethan H. Fast was educated in the schools of Hopewell township
and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for
a number of years.. Subsequently he turned his attention to
farming and now owns a well-culti-.vated farm of 60 acres. He
has always taken considerable interest in public questions in
his locality and enjoys the confidence and respect of his
fellow-citizens in large degree. He is serving his second term
as a member of the .Board of Education and gives a large
amount of time to the proper performance of the duties of
this office.
Mr. Fast was married to Allie Crane, who was born in Mercer
County,. Ohio, and is a daughter of the late E. S. Crane. They
have had six children, namely: Herbert E., Hazel, Laird G.,
Myrtle V., Earnest Fidelis, who died aged 17 months; and Irvin
A. Mr. Fast is a member of the Church of ; God and holds the
office of deacon. |
LOUIS
FELTZ, whose valuable farm of 97 acres is situated in
section 20, Marion township, was born in Seneca County, Ohio,
August 24, 1841, and is a son of Florenz and
Margaret (Loeffler) Feltz.
The father of Mr. Feltz was born in that part of
France that is now included in Germany in 1803, and served in
the French Army for a period of eight years. He was
twice married, first to a French lady, who accompanied him to
America, with their two children, Florenz and Joseph.
The former married Lena Rable, served as a soldier in
the United States Army, and now resides at Wapakoneta.
The latter who is deceased, was also a soldier in the United
States Army, and lived at Baraboo, Wisconsin. The mother
of these sons died in Seneca County. After some time,
Mr. Feltz married Margaret Loeffler, and two
children were born to this union, namely: Louis, of
this sketch, and George, a prominent citizen of Lima,
who married Elizabeth Holdgraven. George Feltz
is auditor of Allen County, and for years has been a man of
consequence there. While editing one of the Lima
journals, he spent some time abroad and during this period
wrote very entertaining letters to his subscribers. Upon
his return he had much to say in praise of foreign countries,
but always concluded with the statement "America is home."
When our subject was about nine years of age, his
father sold the Seneca County farm and removed to Mercer
County, buying a farm in Marion township, upon which the
family moved in 1851, as pioneers in their section. A
log cabin in the woods was their home, and deer and other wild
creatures roamed at will through the thick forest which stood
where now are thriving villages and cultivated fields.
On the above farm Louis Feltz grew to man's
estate. On May 18, 1854, he was married to Rosalia Schuler,
who was born in France and accompanied her parents to
America. The children born to this union were:
Rosa, who married Joseph Fecher and lives at
Wendelin; Adolph, an electrician, who is foreman of the
Westinghouse branch at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Frank,
a blacksmith, who married Philomena Cron; Mary,
who married Cornelius McGreevy, of Greenville, Ohio;
William, now a mail carrier at Cincinnati, who served in
the United States regular army and was wounded in the
Spanish-America War - married Carrie Diehl; Elizabeth,
who is the wife of Bernard Seitz and lives at
Chickasaw; and Emil, who married Mallie Hierholzer,
daughter of A. J. Hierholzer, and lives at Massillon,
Ohio.
The second marriage of Mr. Feltz was to
Josephine Sonderman, who was born at Fort Recovery, Ohio,
December 10, 18969, and is a daughter of Frank Sonderman,
who came to America from Germany and was married at Dayton,
Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sonderman live on their home
place at Victoria, near Fort Recovery. They had eight
children. Mr. and Mrs. Feltz have had eight
children, as follows: Elenora, who married
John Vandrell and lives at Cassella; Henry, who is
engaged in the blacksmithing business; and Florintina,
Albert, Charles Frances, Otto and Leona. The
family belong to St. Mary's Catholic Church at Cassella.
Mr. Feltz was one of the founders of the Marion
Mutual Fire Insurance Association and is a member of its board
of directors. He has served as township assessor, as
land appraiser, and as a member of the School Board. His
farm - the old home farm on which his parents settled in 1851
- he purchased from his father, who died in 1889. The
surroundings are very attractive, the house being almost
concealed from the road by evergreen and well-kept orchards.
Almost all of Mr. Feltz's children are gifted with a
talent for music and he is giving them every advantage in his
power. This is one of the representative families of
Marion township. |
DANIEL
FENNIG, a representative farmer of Washington
township, resides upon his well-cultivated farm of 80 acres
in section 10. He was born in the house in which he
lives, Mar. 27, 1865, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine
(Holtser) Fennig.
Jacob Fennig was born in Germany but the greater
part of his life was spent in America, as he came here in
young manhood. He settled first at Mansfield, Ohio,
but later moved to Mercer County. He married
Catherine Holtser, who was born in Switzerland, and came
to the United States at the age of seven years. She
died Nov. 1, 1905, having survived her husband since 1877.
They had nine children.
Daniel Fennig is the youngest but one of his
parents' children. He obtained his education in the
local schools, was reared to be a practical farmer and has
remained on the homestead farm.
Mr. Fennig was married on May 22, 1895, to
Susan Betz, who died Mar. 15, 1906. She was a most
estimable lady and was a daughter of John and Mary
(Walter) Betz, who were pioneers of Washington township.
Mr. and Mrs. Fenning had three children, namely:
Raymond, Foster Andrew and Forrest Lowell.
Politically Mr. Fennig is a strong Democrat.
He is a prominent man in his township and has served as
township trustee since 1900. He has also served as
supervisor. Mr. Fennig belongs to the St.
Paul's Lutheran Church, Washington township. |
The
FORT RECOVERY
STIRRUP COMPANY, manufactures of bent wood and
metal bound saddle stirrups, the largest exclusive
manufacturers of wood stirrups in the world, and the leading
manufacturing establishment of Fort Recovery, was organized
in 1899 by William Koch, president of the
company, and his son Edward, who is secretary and general
manager. The company employs from 18 to 20 men. Previous to
its establishment, the building now occupied by the company
was used as a tannery, which was owned and operated by
William Koch.
WILLIAM KOCH was born January 31, 1834,
in Prussia, Germany, and is a son of Frederick Koch, a
farmer by occupation, who emigrated to America in 1845,
locating at New Bremen, Ohio, where he died in 1856.
William Koch moved to St. Marys when 18 years old
and subsequently learned the tanner's trade at New Bremen,
Ohio. He worked at his trade for seven years in St. Marys.
In 1864 he moved to Fort Recovery where he opened a tannery,
in which business he continued until the establishment of
the stirrup company in 1899.
Mr. Koch was married in 1857 to
Dorothea Backaus, a daughter of Henry
Backaus. To Mr. and Mrs. Koch 10 children were
born, six of whom are still living. The record is as
follows: Lucilla, who married Charles
Schhneider; William, who died in childhood;
Julia, deceased; Frank, who lives in Lima, Ohio;
Minnie, who married William Heiby;
Flora; Edward; Carrie, and two children
that died in infancy. Edward Koch, who is
secretary and manager of the Fort Recovery Stirrup Company,
was married in 1901 to Matilda Frommel, a
daughter of Edward Frommel. Mr. Koch
is a member of Pisgah Congregational Church of Fort
Recovery, and a member of the Fort Recovery Village Council.
Found in the History of Mercer County, 1907 - Pg:
500-501
(Contributed by
Tracy Clark ) |
JOHN
F. FRAHM, clerk of the Board of Education of Hopewell
township, is one of the representative men of this section of
Mercer County. He resides on his well-improved farm of 80
acres in section 15. Mr. Frahm belongs to one of
the old pioneer families of the township, in which he was born
October 7, 1860, and is a son of John H. and Sophia (Smith)
Frahm, natives of Germany.
The parents of our subject emigrated to America and
settled in Hopewell township, Mercer County, about 1852.
John H. Frahm was a man of more than usual good judgment
and in the course of time he became a very useful and
prominent citizen-'of Mercer County. He served as trustee of
Hopewell township and for six years was a member of the Board
of County Commissioners. His political views made him a
Democrat and he was an active party worker. His death occurred
in April, 1899. He was a worthy member and liberal supporter
of the Lutheran Church. His seven surviving children are:
Minnie, wife of John Hoenie, of Hopewell
township; August, of Hopewell township; John F.;
of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of Henry
Brasch, of Tipton, Indiana; Frederica, widow of
Frederick Rahn, now residing at Celina; Charles,
of Hopewell township; and Anna, wife of John
Luth, of Dublin township.
John F. Frahm was reared in Hopewell township and was
thoroughly trained in agricultural pursuits. He was educated
in the public schools, in which he has always taken a great
interest and, as noted above, is now serving as clerk of the
Board of Education. The schools of Hopewell township have an
enviable reputation for their efficiency. Previous to taking
this position, he served four years as township clerk. Mr.
Frahm carries on general farming and is considered one
of the leading agriculturists of his locality.
Mr. Frahm was united in
marriage with Louisa Sielschott, who was born in
Hopewell township, Mercer County, and is a daughter of G.
W. Sielschott. Mr. and Mrs. Frahm have six children,
namely: Clarence W., Otto B., Hilda B., Edgar J.,
Harold and an infant son.
Politically Mr. Frahm is identified with
the Democratic party. He is a member of the Lutheran Church
and is serving as one of the deacons of the church in Hopewell
township.
(pp. 603 & 604) |
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