The Kuenzli Family of Wyandot County, Ohio

SAMUEL KUENZLI, farmer and cheese manufacturer, was born in Wyden, Switzerland, December 14, 1822. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Parmserier) Kuenzli, natives of Switzerland, who emigrated to the United States in 1834, settling in Holmes County, Ohio, where the father died in 1864, and the mother in 1872. Of their twelve children, but nine are living. The subject of this notice, Samuel Kuenzli, was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools of Holmes County. He removed to this county on April 10, 1847, purchased lands at 2.80 per acre, which he has cleared and improved; he now has 160 acres, valued at $75 per acre. Mr. Kuenzli was married in Tuscarawas County, April 3, 1847, to Mary Sicrest, and nine children were born to them, eight living — Samuel E., Anna E., Sophia, Henrietta, Rosenia, John F., Christian H. and William G. Mrs. Kuenzli's death occurred August 9, 1862, and he was remarried October 30, 1862, to Angeline Hefler, by whom he has seven children, viz., Martha J., George F., Charles P., Ezra J., Laura E., Ernest and Reuben H. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Kuenzli is a stockholder in an extensive cheese factory, manufacturing 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of cheese per year. Himself and wife are members of the Evangelical Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY KUENZLI, farmer, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, December 31, 1838. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Parmseier) Kuenzli. He obtained the rudiments of an education in the district schools, attending three terms at the Greesburg Seminary, after which he engaged in teaching school at intervals for about five years. He learned the tanning trade, which he followed at intervals till 1867, at which period he removed to this county and purchased 120 acres of land, part of his present farm, to which he has since added forty acres more; he erected an elegant brick residence in 1881 at a cost of $3,000, and now values his farm at $100 per acre. He raises all ordinary cereals and the best grades of stock. He was married, in Stark County, Ohio, June 7, 1865, to Mary E. Slutts, daughter of James and Rachel (Slutter) Slutts, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively, and of German parentage. Mrs. Kuenzli was born in Stark County, Ohio, October 10, 1845, and by her marriage had eight children, seven living: Rachel L., born May 27, 1866; Sarah H, September 1, 1867; William A., January 8, 1869; James A., July 6, 1873; Avery S., January 28, 1876; Minerva L., September 11, 1881; and Ora A., November 26, 1883; an infant is deceased. Mr. Kuenzli was a soldier in the ranks, acting as Orderly Sergeant of his company in camp at Mansiield, Ohio, but hired a substitute, and abandoned the army on account of

failing health. He is a strong advocate of Republicanism, a member of the Grange, and, with his wife, of the Evangelical Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SAMUEL E. KUENZLI was born in Crane Township January 30, 1848. He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Sichrist) Kueuzli, and was educated in his native district school. He learned the tanner's trade, but disliking the business he abandoned it and has since engaged in farming. He was married, March 8, 1881, to Laura V. Chew, only daughter of Archibald and Elizabeth (Swann) Chew, natives of Richland County, Ohio. Her parents had two children — Laura V. and Irvin A.; the former born December 13, 1856; the latter June 11, 1861. Their father was born January 24, 1833; removed to this county in 1858, and died August 21, 1876; their mother was born June 11, 1836, and still resides in Crane Township. Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli have two children — Edna, born December 28, 1881, and Byron, born March 14, 1884. Mr. K. is the owner of 22 acres of land; farms 110 acres of his wife's homestead and 210 acres of the "Dixon" farm. He does a large business, usually employing three hands the year round. He years stock of the best blood, the total products of his farm being about $2,000 annually. He is energetic, enterprising, and strong in Republican faith.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY LINCOLN KUENZLI.

Henry Lincoln Kuenzli, of the firm of Kuenzli Brothers, manufacturers of drain tile and retail hardware dealers, at Nevada, Wyandot county, Ohio, was born at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, April 21, 1865. He is the third son of Frederick and Josephine (Hochstetler) Kuenzli. The father, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ramsier) Kuenzli, the former born in 1790 in Canton Bern, Switzerland, was a native of that country, born in Canton Bern, May 23, 1834, and emigrated to America with his parents in his infancy. The family settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, removing to Upper Sandusky, Wyandot county, Ohio, shortly after his marriage, which occurred March 18, 1859, at Navarre, Ohio. His death occurred December 23, 1891. The ancestry of the Kuenzli family has honorable mention in the history and military records of Switzerland, among them being Colonel Joseph Kuenzli, who served his country gallantly in suppression of an insurrection, and was rewarded with promotion to high official position in the national government.

The mother was a member of the Hochstetler family, whose genealogy is traced back for six generations, the number of her father's family (Elias Hochstetler) being 2,207. His ancestor was Jacob Hochstetler, who was born in the highlands of Germany, along the Rhine, and who emigrated to America, and arrived at Philadelphia, September 1, 1736, as recorded in the history of the Hochstetler family, which volume includes one thousand one hundred and ninety-one pages, and contains a biography of over ten thousand individuals, together with much interesting religious and historical matter. The mother was born April 18, 1839, near Walnut Creek, Holmes county, Ohio, and died December 11, 1905, at Nevada, Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and

, Google also a tanner by trade. In their family were ten children: Frederick, deceased; Sophia, now Mrs. E. G. Blaser, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Edward S., who is the partner of our subject in the business enterprises above noted; Henry L., of this review; Clara, deceased; Charles A., now a student for the ministry at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio; John W. deceased; "William T., a farmer residing in Eden township; Grace V., now Mrs. W. G. Milligan, also of Eden township; and Elmer D., employed as clerk with the firm as above given.

H. L. Kuenzli, in the acquirement of his education, attended the public schools at Upper Sandusky, and the country schools, continuing with his parents and assisting with the work upon the farm until his twenty-third year, when, with his brother-in-law, E. G. Blaser, and his brother, Edward S., was formed the firm of Blaser & Kuenzli Brothers. The then new firm from which Mr. Blaseiretired in 1902. assumed o'ownership and management of the drain tile manufacturing industry at Nevada, Ohio, on the first day of April, 1888, to which the hardware business was added in 1894, and both of which enterprises, since the retirement of Mr. Blaser, have been successfully continued by the two brothers under the well known firm name of Kuenzli Brothers.

Mr. Kuenzli was married November 26, 1890, by Rev. D. H. Wonder, in Eden township, to Viola B., daughter of S. M. and Hester A. (Bowlby) Sigler. Mrs. Kuenzli, who was born in Antrim township, Wyandot county, Ohio, January 12, 1870, was educated in the district schools, and for several years prior to her marriage was engaged in teaching. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli are: Ruth B., bom September 11, 1891, a graduate of both the Nevada and Upper Sandusky high schools, and now a student in Oberlin College in the third year of a classical course; and [name withheld], born June 21, 1908, a bright and active child of five years.

Mr. Kuenzli gives his allegiance to the republican party and has actively participated in public life in his community, doing much to promote its interests. Fraternally, he has been a Knight of Pythias for twenty-four years, while in the Masonic order he holds membership with Nevada Lodge, No. 343, P. & A. M. and Nevada Chapter, No. 186, R. A. M., and has attained the rank of a Knight Templar, belonging to the Marion Commandery, No. 36. His religion is that of the Evangelical church, and for thirty years he has been a member

Engle of Salem parish in Eden township. Above all other associations, and above all other institutions, Mr. Kuenzli holds high and is distinctively devoted to his home. Therein his beliefs are centered on the highest interests of life, and to the companion of his life and home he freely ascribes full credit for any success to which he may have attained.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELMER DUBBS KUENZLI.

Elmer Dubbs Kuenzli, one of the progressive and enterprising young men of Nevada, is engaged in the hardware business, as head clerk of the concern known as Kuenzli Brothers. He was born in Eden township, March 15, 1880, and is a son of Frederick and Josephine (Hochstetter) Kuenzli, natives of Holmes county, the father born in 1845. He engaged in farming during his active life, passing away in 1898. He was survived by his wife, who died in 1906. In their family were ten children. The two eldest, Clara and Fred, died in infancy. Sophia married E. O. Blaser, a tile manufacturer of Upper Sandusky, and they became the parents of two children, Esther and Fred. Edward S. is engaged in the hardware business and is also active as a tile manufacturer in Nevada. He married Victoria Neat and has four children, Alice, Edith, Lester and Irvin. Henry L. is a tile manufacturer and hardware merchant. His wife was in her maidenhood Viola Sigler, and they have two children, Ruth and Thaddeus. Charles C. has been twice married. He wedded first Miss May Kaufman, who has passed away, leaving two children, Terrence and Robert. After the death of his first wife he married Esther Songer by whom he has two children. He is now connected with the Springfield (Ohio) Theological Institute and engaged in educational work. John W. passed away at the age of forty years. Grace became the wife of W. Or. Milligan, a farmer in Eden township, and they have four children. William is engaged in farming. He

, Google married Miss Myrtle Cross and has six children. Elmer D. is the youngest child in the family and the subject of this review.

The last named was reared in Eden township and acquired his education in the district schools, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age. After laying aside his books he worked for two years in a tile factory, but at the end of that time became head clerk of his uncle 's hardware business in Nevada, a connection in which he is proving his energy, progressiveness and business acumen. He has secured an extensive and representative patronage, which is accorded in recognition of his honorable and straightforward business methods and his reasonable prices. He owns his own residence and two valuable vacant lots.

In Nevada, on the 6th of March, 1903, Mr. Kuenzli married Miss Grace Boulby, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Boulby, the former a farmer in Crane township. Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli have five children, Homer A., Earl P., Curtis B., Eva L. and Hubert D. Mr. Kuenzli is a member of the English Lutheran church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, having served as treasurer of Nevada for six years, as treasurer of Antrim township for four years and as a member of the town council, displaying in the discharge of his official duties the same energy, determination and progressive spirit which have marked the activities of his business career.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.