The Lutz Families of Crawford County, Ohio

The German element in our national commonwealth is one of much importance. No country has furnished so many valuable citizens to the United States as the fatherland. They are men of diligence, determined and self-reliant, and of this class Mr, Lutz is a representative. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February 7, 1821, and spent his early youth upon a farm. In 1833 he came with his stepfather, George Schemly, and the family to America, the voyage being made in a sailing vessel which reached the American harbor in ninety-five days after leaving the German port.

In the spring of 1834 Mr. Lutz came to Crawford county, taking up his above in Chatfield township. The next year he went to Pennsylvania and began carrying water for the men working on the canal. In the fall he returned to this county and the next summer worked on the Miami canal. Subsequently he began working by the day, and when nineteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1 861, being actively identified with the building interests of the county throughout that period. He was a skillful mechanic and was thus enabled to secure employment easily. In the meantime, however, in 1849, *ie nae invested his earnings in one hundred and forty acres of land, which he cleared and improved, transforming the wild tract which came into his possession into a valuable farm. As the years have passed he extended the boundaries of his property and now has two hundred and ninety-two acres of valuable land, constituting a very fine and attractive farm, supplied with all modern accessories and improvements.

In 1848 Mr. Lutz was united in marriage to Miss Sabina Kalb, and unto them have been born eleven children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Lutz is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he has held the offices of trustee and deacon, having been identified with the society of that denomination in Chatfield since its organization. He has ever taken a deep interest in the growth and progress of the society and the extension of its influence. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat and has filled the position of trustee and school director, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Llis life has been crowned with success, and though he started out for himself empty-handed, he is now the owner of a valuable farm. For two-thirds of a century he has resided in the county and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its development and Upbuilding and has borne his part in its progress. His life, honorable and upright,. has commended him to the respect of his fellow men and no one is more: worthy of representation in this volume than Michael Lutz.

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

M. J. LUTZ, merchant, Chatfield; is among the rising young merchants of Crawford Co., and was raised to farming pursuits. He was born Aug. 29, 1854, in this township; son of Michael and Savina (Kalb) Lutz, who were natives of Germany, and emigrated to this State, locating in this township, many years ago. and have been, since their arrival, closely identified with its interests. At the age of is. Michael J. left the farm and engaged at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about Ave years. On Feb. 6, 1879, he engaged in the mercantile business at Richville. with Mr. Morhoff, under the firm name of Morhoff & Lutz, and they are doing a thriving and prospering ti-ade. it having doubled since their commencement. They keep a general stock, consisting of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, queensware, and such articles as are required among the farmers, and at prices to suit the times. On Sept. 16, 1880, he was united in marriage to Christina Zeller, who was born July 6, 1856, the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Bardon) Zeller. In 1879, he was elected Township Treasurer. He and wife are both members of the Lutheran Church.

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

T. JOHN LUTZ, who resides on his valuable farm of seventy-six acres, situated in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., owns a second farm, which contains 146 acres and is located in Ashtabula county, O. He was born in Chatfield township, Crawford county, in December, 1860, and is a son of Michael and Sabina (Kalb) Lutz.

The parents of Mr. Lutz were born in Germany but for many years they were well known and highly respected residents of Chatfield township, Crawford county, where the father was a farmer and also followed the carpenter trade. Both he and wife died in Chatfield township and a number of their children live in this section. Of these T. John was the sixth in order of birth, the others being: William; Sabina, who is the widow of Mathias Loyer; Michael; Catherine, who is the wife of J. D. Loyer; Caroline; Lucy, who is the wife of Frank Rush; David; Matilda, who is the wife of J. H. Fox; and Daniel and Jacob.

T. John Lutz attended the public schools near his father's farm and afterward spent three terms at college, at Valparaiso, Ind. A well educated man makes no mistake when he chooses farming as his life work and Mr. Lutz has proved this true. When he started he bought 100 acres of land in Cranberry township, which he bought from a Mr. Rader, but since 1903 he has been on his present farm in Bucyrus township, which he purchased from C. F. Rexroth.

In June, 1882 Mr. Lutz was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Zeller, who died in 1904. She was a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Bardon) Zeller, who came to Crawford county from Germany and after many years died on their farm here. They had the following children: Margaret, wife of N. F. Shunk; Elizabeth, wife of John Q. Shunk; Catherine; Christina, wife of M. J. Lutz; Henry; Martha; August; Matilda, wife of S. E. Miller, Mary Elizabeth, formerly wife of T. John Lutz; and John, Albert and Etta. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lutz: Cyrus Pierce, Clifton D. and Ruth, the last named being deceased. Mr. Lutz was married (second) to Mrs. Ida (Lewis) Jackson, widow of Thomas J. Jackson, and she had one child of her first marriage, Bertie Elmyra. Mr. Jackson died in Huron county,

O. In politics Mr. Lutz has always been a Democrat and on many occasions has been elected to responsible township offices on the Democratic ticket. He has served as a member of the school board and in Chatfield township served as road supervisor and three terms as assessor. He is one of the valued members of the Bucyrus Grange, and with his wife belongs to the English Lutheran church in that city.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DANIEL LUTZ, farmer; P. O. Sulphur Springs; was born on the farm he now owns, in December, 1837, and is a son of Gottlieb and EvaKibler. He was born in Wurtemberg, 1797, at Oberamts, Backnang; she was born July 11, 1808. He died April 28, 1868; she died Oct. 17, 1850. To them were born twelve children, five of whom lived to maturity, Daniel being the sixth. In 1832, Gottleib emigrated to this State, stopping first at New Lisbon, and, the year following, came to Chatfield. where he located, entering 40 acres of land in the " green woods," and building a rude log cabin. He lived several years the life of a pioneer, the wolves and bears being their companions and neighbors, making the night hideous with their howls, and the sheep-pens and ties almost tenantless by their nightly depredations. One viewing the well-kept and farmer-like premises of Daniel Lutz in 1880, one would scarcely imagine how great the contrast when his father first settled here and the present time. Now, the forest and rude cabin are things of the past, being supplanted by fruitful and productive fields, the premises being adorned by excellent and well-designed farm Iniildings. Daniel stayed with his paternal ancestor until 20 years of age, then, learning the carpenter's trade, he followed the same until he was 27 years of age. On Oct. 5. 1863. he was united in wedlock to Elizabeth Ulmer, who was born July 28, 1837, in Liberty Township, daughter of Daniel Ulmer, who was born in Wurtemberg; to them were born twelve children, eleven of whom are living. Mr. Lutz has 128 acres of choice land, and is an excellent and successful farmer. Two children — David and Katie — compose the family. Mrs. Lutz's mother's maiden name was Barbara Brosey. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz are members of the Lutheran Church, and are true representatives of the better class of farmers.

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

EMAXUEL L. LUTZ.

Upon the farm in Chatfield township upon which his father now resides Emanuel L. Lutz was born and reared. His birth occurred December 16, 1853. At the usual age he entered school and through the winter months pursued his studies, while in the summer season he worked in the fields, aiding in the raising of crops from the time of early spring planting until after the autumn harvests. He did not go out to work, but assisted his father until his marriage, when he began making a home of his own.

In 1874 Mr. Lutz was joined in wedlock to Gertrude Schaffer, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Schaffer, and their home has been enlivened and brightened by the presence of five children born to them, namely: Manetta, William F., Clara M., David H. and Emma L. Soon after their marriage our subject and his wife removed to their present farm. Here he owns one hundred and twenty-three acres of land, and, like most of Ohio's farming land, it is a richly productive tract, yielding good harvests for the care and labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Lutz also owns fifty-eight acres of land elsewhere and is a successful general farmer. He realizes the dignity of labor, and industry has been one of his chief characteristics from his youth. Upon this he has builded his success, his sound judgment and reliable dealing also assisting him in acquiring the comfortable competence and good home which are to-day his.

In his religious views Mr. Lutz is a German Evangelical Lutheran, holding membership in the church in Chatfield. His political support is given the Democratic party, and on that ticket he has been elected to public office, having served as trustee of Chatfield township from 1895 until 1899, his long retention in office well indicating his faithful performance of duty. His friends, and they are many, know him as a man of genuine worth, and as a representative citizen of his township he well deserves mention in the history of Crawford county.

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

DAVID E. LUTZ.

Among the successful business men of Chatfield is the subject of this review, a well-known representative of the industrial interests of his community. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his excellent management and executive ability have brought to the concern with which he is connected a high degree of success. Brooking no obstacles, which honest effort can overcome, he has steadily advanced on the high road to prosperity and today he occupies an enviable position among the men of worth in his native county".

Mr. Lutz was born on the old home farm in Chatfield township, Jannary 18, 1866, and the common schools afforded him the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his early youth, while later he attended the high school in New Washington and the Ohio Normal University at Ada. His time, not given to the duties of the school-room, was devoted to work upon the home farm, where he remained until 1885, when he began teaching school through the winter months. At the age of twenty-two he became connected with the operation of a sawmill, but continued his labors as an instructor in the public schools until twenty-five years of age. Since that time he has engaged in general farming and stock-raising, but his efforts have been by no means confined to this line, for throughout the entire period he has also engaged in the lumber business, operating a sawmill and conducting a lumber yard. In 1897 he erected the plant of the Chatfield Bending Company, in which enterprise he is associated with James McCormick. They engaged in the manufacture of bent-wood material for carriages, wagons and sleds, and their is one of the leading industrial interests in this part of the county. Employment is furnished to twenty men in the shops, and the pay roll and expenses for timber amount to from thirty-five to forty hundred dollars per month. Their patronage is large and is constantly growing, and the firm has an unassailable reputation in business circles. On account of the excellence and durability of the workmanship, as well as the straightforward business methods of the partners, the Chatfield Bending Company has a large trade, and the income of the partners is thus annually augmented.

In May, 1889, Mr. Lutz was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Kibler, and unto them have been born four children: Lester E., O. Ward, S. Vida and P. Verna. The wife and mother died in February, 1898, and her loss was widely felt throughout the community, for her many estimable qualities had endeared her to a large circle of friends. Mr, Lutz is regarded as a leading and influential citizen and one whose force of character is felt in the control of public affairs. He was elected the first mayor of Chatfield after its incorporation and still holds the position, and has splendidly performed the difficult task of placing the new machinery of government in good working order. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat and for several years has served on the Democratic central committee, while for three years he was township treasurer. He belongs to the German Evangelical Lutheran church and is in hearty sympathy with every movement for the general good and progress.

Every public duty and private obligation are discharged by him willingly and faithfully. He is yet a young man, full of determination and laudable ambition, combined with business ability, and while he has already won prosperity still further success undoubtedly awaits him.

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