The Ulrich Families of Wyandot County, Ohio

Mention is made of the well-known Ulrich family in another place in this volume in the record of B. J. Ulrich, a brother of the gentleman whose name heads this biographical notice, and to it the attention of the reader is respectfully invited. A portion of the paternal history, however, will here bear repetition.

Peter Ulrich, father of subject, was a native of Maryland, and married, in Pennsylvania, Miss Catherine Bowser, who was born in York county, that state. He was a carpenter by trade and worked in York county, Penn., and also in Xew York state at various places. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1834 he came to Ohio, and at first located in Stark county, where he bought a small farm of seventeen acres, which sufficed his purpose as he continued there to follow his trade, In 1846 he came to Wyandot county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land in section 24. Eden township, on which he settled with his family. He here rose to considerable prominence and on the Democratic ticket was elected to several township offices, which he filled with much credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. He and wife were members of the German Baptist church, and in that faith both passed to the farther shore, leaving behind them five children.

Michael Ulrich, subject of this notice, was born in Baltimore county. Md., October 9. 1822, and was a lad of about twelve years when brought to Ohio by his parents. He attended school in Maryland and Ohio, going a long way through the woods to the primitive log school-houses in each state, but was chief! self-educated, and a very good education he has given himself.

Michael Ulrich lived at home on the farm with his parents, doing his full share toward the development of the place, until his marriage. February ar. 1850. with Catherine Heistand. daughter of Isaiah Heistand. a history of whose life is given in full on an- '

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After his marriage, Mr. Ulrich located on forty acres of land cut off from the old homestead, and to this tract he subsequently added another tract of forty acres, which he bought with his savings while at work on the home place. Mr. Ulrich erected a dwelling on his premises and for some years worked at the carpenter's trade, and then sold the property. In 1867 he bought his present farm in Little York, this county. This farm comprises eighty acres, and here Mr. Ulrich has made all the improvements that are necessary to make life on a farm pleasant as well as profitable. He has been very successful in his management of his affairs and now owns one hundred and twenty acres in all, which yield a gratifying compensation for his care and labor. He did not confine himself to farming, however, but occasionally worked at carpentering and erected several buildings in his neighborhood, besides constructing those on his farm.

Mr. Ulrich is now living in comparative retirement, which his long life of usefulness certainly entitles him to. and there L no man in the township more sincerely respected, for he has always been a truly public-spirited citizen, ever ready with his means to advance and with his practical experience to suggest necessary improvements in the public works of the township. But although he is and has been one of the most popular men in the community in which he has so long lived, he has invariably declined to accept a nomination for public office, and yet he has frequently been solicited to do so. He has, however, done all in his power to promote the interests of the Democratic part, of which he has been a member since reaching voting age. He cast his first ballot for James K. Polk for president and has ever since stand by supported all the nominees of the Democratic party. Since early manhood Mr. Ulrich has been a member of the German Baptist church, in which he has now attained the dignity of deacon, and aided both financially and by work in the erection of the church.

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

BENJAMIN J. ULRICH.

One of the most prosperous and best-known citizens of Eden township. Wvandot county. Ohio, is Benjamin f. Ulrich, who lias virtually retired from the activities of agricultural life and now lives at ease on his homestead in section 16, on which he settled, m 1865.

Benjamin J. Ulrich was born Januarv r 2. 1827, in Baltimore count. Md.. twenty-five miles west of the city of Baltimore, and is a son of Peter C. and Catherine (Bowser ) Ulrich, the former of whom was also a native of Baltimore county, Md.. and the latter of York county, Penn.: in the latter county their marriage took place.

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To Peter C. Ulrich and wife were born eight children, namely: Sarah, widow or

Isaac Thomas and residing in Marshall coun-, y. Ind.; Michael, who was married ’o Uathos eine Hei stand and is farming in Eden township, Wyandot conn tv, Ohio: Elizabeth, who died unmarried at the age of sixteen years; Benjamin j., -abject of this sketch; Catherine. deceased wife of James Smalley; Samuel, deceased; Johanna, wife of Columbus Cow den, of St. Joseph county, Ind.: and Amanda, wife of Peter Whitmer, also living in St. Joseph county, Ind. The father of this family died January 8. 1878, and the mother in June, 1881. in the faith of the Dunkard church, and were greatly respected by all who knew them. In politics the father was a Democrat.

In 1846 Peter C. and his two sons, Benjamin J. (subject) and Michael, came to Eden township, Wyandot county, and here Peter C. purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 24 at the cost of five hundred dollars, and later added eighty acres,.ill tins land was covered wiio a dense growth of oak, hickory and elm timber, through which they were obliged to “blaze” a passage, as there was not a roadway in the region, and they also had to “blaze” the boundary lines of their property.

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At the end of these five years Mr. LI- rich purchased a farm of fifty-one acres in Eden township, improved it and resided on it fourteen years, and then purchased seventy-four acres of his present farm in section 16. which was school land and which was known at that time as the Garrett place. On this land Mr. Ulrich also made all the improvements and from time to time added to it until he now owns a tine estate of two-hundred and forty acres, all of winch he ! rents out, but has himself cleared, fenced and

; ditched about eighty acres.

Benjamin J. Ulrich, who was educated in Maryland and in Stark county. Ohio, in both the German and English tongues, was well qualified for his duties as a citizen and as a representative of the interests of his fellow townsmen in public positions. He is capable of thinking for himself and. although his father was a Democrat, our subject votes for the candidate he deems to be fully competent for tilling the prospective office. He is himself very popular and has been twice elected to the office of township treasurer, once to that of township assessor,

I has been a justice of the peace six years, has also been a constable and in r88o was land appraiser. In religion he is a Dunkard.

Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich have led very industrious lives, he working at his trade of cabinetmaker and carpenter, and also do- ! ing considerable farming. He stands to-day among the foremost of the citizens of Wyandot county, who honor him for his many personal qualities and keen interest in the well-being of the township.

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

JOHN H. ULRICH was born in Baden, Germany, May 22, 1839. His parents, John and Wilhelmina (Rouch) Ulrich, were natives of the same place, and emigrated to America in June, 1854, and settled in this county. They had five children — Henry, Elizabeth, John H., Eva M. and Jacob, the second having died in 1860. Our subject worked by the day and month for some time after his arrival in this country, and July 4, 1862, married Christina F. Boyer, who emigrated from Wurtemberg, Germany, May 15, 1857. This marriage has been followed by five children: Anna C, Mary H., Rosa M., Sarah A. and Lizzie M. Anna is deceased. In the third year of his marriage. Mr. Ulrich purchased forty acres of land, which he has improved and to which he has added by subsequent purchase till he now owns ninety-seven acres. A fine barn with all its contents was destroyed by lightning September 2, 1878. Mr. Ulrich is a prominent Democrat in his township. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, as is his wife also, and his daughters are associated with the English Methodist Church.

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

REUBEN S. ULRICH.

Reuben S. Ulrich, a well known and leading resident of Wyandot county, is now serving in the capacity of county commissioner. He owns and operates a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, Eden township, and also owns a residence and harness store in the town of Nevada.

His birth occurred in Eden township, this county, on the 7th of March, 1859, his parents being Samuel B. and Helena (Sellers) Ulrich, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Cumberland county in 1830 and the latter in 1838. Samuel B. Ulrich took up his above in Eden township, Wyandot county, in 1847 and here spent the remainder of his life, devoting his attention to the pursuits of farming and carpentering. His demise occurred in 1887, while his wife was called to her final rest in the year 1906. To them were born the following children: Reuben S., of this review; Peter, who died in infancy; Benjamin S.; Elmira; Howard; Martha, who passed away at the age of twenty-eight years; Noretta; Samuel S.; Helena M.; and one who died in infancy.

Reuben S. Ulrich attended the district schools of Eden township until twenty years of age and subsequently worked at threshing and carpentering until 1887. In that year he rented a tract of land comprising one hundred and sixteen acres. He also owned a farm of two hundred acres in Texas township, Crawford county, in partnership with his uncle, and after disposing of his half interest in the property purchased one hundred and twenty-seven acres in Sycamore township, Wyandot county. At the end of three years he sold the land and in 1904 bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, Eden township, to the further cultivation and improvement of which he has devoted his time and energies continuously since. He has won a gratifying measure of success in his undertakings as an agriculturist, raising hay, corn, oats and wheat, which he sells in the local market. He makes a specialty of the breeding of Hereford and Shorthorn cattle, of which he has twenty head, and his stock also includes one hundred head of sheep and as many hogs. In connection with his farming interests he owned and operated a threshing machine for twenty-five years. In addition to his farm, he owns a residence and harness store in Nevada and in the latter carries a stock of goods valued at three thousand dollars. Mr. Ulrich is likewise a stockholder in the Nevada Telephone Company and has long been widely recognized as one of the enterprising, progressive and prosperous citizens of this county.

On the 25th of December, 1879, at the home of the bride in Eden township, Mr. Ulrich was united in marriage to Miss Annie E. Harter, her parents being Jacob and Susan

(Haas) Harter, farming people of that township. Unto our subject and his wife have been born the following children: Lesta L., the wife of Samuel T. Bell, a farmer of Eden township, by whom she has two children, Ulrich and Allen; Laurence B., an agriculturist residing in Eden township, who wedded Miss Ollie Walters and has four children, Lea Jean, Beth, Ulva and Wayne B.; Clate H., who died in infancy; Clara H., twin sister of Clate, who gave her hand in marriage to Stephen (rolling, a barber of Nevada, Ohio, and has two children, Coline and Martha; and Ralph F., who passed away when but a year old.

In politics Mr. Ulrich is a stanch democrat and an active worker in the local ranks of the party. He has served as clerk of Eden township for two terms and for a period of fifteen years acted as president of the school board in that township. In 1910 he was chosen county commissioner and two years later was reelected, holding that office at the present time and discharging his duties in connection therewith in a most commendable and satisfactory manner. His fraternal relations are with the Royal Arch Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious. faith is indicated by his membership in the Church of God, attending the services in Eden township. A lifelong resident of Wyandot county, he has witnessed its continuous growth and development for more than a half century and has been an active factor in the work of progress and upbuilding along many lines.

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