Alexander Mentzer

As printed in 1896

HLEXANDER MENTZER, Jr.. oT Tully township. Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Alexander Mentzer, Sr., whose biography will be found as an apendix to this sketch. Our subject was born on his father's farm January 19, 1852. and was there reared. April 28, 1887, he married Hattie Miller, who was born November 13, 1860, a daughter of Smith and Calisto

(Bronson) Miller, who were old settlers of Van Wert county. The Miller family were of Pennsylvania descent and the Bronsons came from New England. William Miller, grandfather of Mrs. Mentzer, came from Fayette county, Ohio, in 1835, and died in February, 1894, at the age of eighty-eight years. His children were ten in number, and were named Smith, Martha, Sarah, Mary A., Samuel, Calvin, Elizabeth, Nancy, John N., and Simeon. After his marriage, Alexander Mentzer, Jr., began farming on land he had bought in 1879, which then comprised ninety-two acres, but which he has since increased to 160 acres, and this tract, which is now his home, he has brought under a most excellent state of cultivation, having cleared all from the woods, with the exception of forty acres only. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer are the happy parents of two children — Marian and Leila M., who are being reared within the pale of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the mother has been a member since she was sixteen years of age. In politics Mr. Mentzer is a democrat, and under the auspices of that party has served as trustee of his township two terms, and also two terms as assessor. Fraternally, Mr. Mentzer is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and of the P. of H. He is a man of undoubted business talent, and has been a member of the school board since 1890.

Alexander Mentzer, Sr., a pioneer of Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and the father of the gentleman whose name heads this brief sketch, as given in the preced-. ing paragraph, was formerly a farmer of great repute in Tully township and well deserves the reputation he has gained as a practical farmer. He sprang from an old colonial family of Pennsylvania, and descended from in Pennsylvania about the year 1724. Conrad had one son, Michael, who married Ann Maria;

and to their marriage were born seven sons and seven daughters. Prior to the Revolution, Michael moved to Washington county, Md.. where he died at a very advanced age. George Mentzer, son of Michael, and the father of Alexander, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., April 24, 1766, and was a boy when his father moved to Maryland. He learned the trade of tailor and for seven years worked as a journeyman at Hagerstown. He married Susannah Hoover, who bore elevenchildren, named Mary, Nancy, Susan, Elizabeth, John, Christine, Sarah, George, Samuel, an unnamed infant, deceased, and Alexander. In 1814, the parents of this family moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, where the father bought a half section of land, on which he lived until 1832, when he moved to Crawford county, bought 160 acres, and there passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1S3S, at the age of seventy-two years — a member of the Lutheran church. His widow lived to be eighty years old, a member of the Dunkard church. Alexander Mentzer, Sr., was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 31, 1819, and was reared a farmer. At the age of thirteen years he accompanied his father to Crawford county, and October 8, 1843, married Elizabeth Roop, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Roop, who were old settlers of Crawford county, Ohio, and to this union were born four children — Susannah, Joseph, Elizabeth, and John. Both parents died in Crawford county, members of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Mentzer settled in Tuily township. Van Wert county, on October 8, 184C, on the land which Mr. Roop — his wife's father — had entered, and which covered 160 acres in the wild woods, but which Mr. Mentzer afterward converted into a beautiful farm, and increased to 800 acres, of which he gave 400 to his children, and later sold 1 60 acres. To Alexander Mentzer and his wife were born seven children.

' named Rebecca, Sarah Susanah, Peter R., Alexander, Mary (deceased), George deceased, and Samuel deceased. The mother of this family died November 5, 1857, and the father was next married, June 24, 1858, to Miss Eliza Reed, who died June 24, 1864, leaving no children; the next marriage was with Mrs. McClure, April 3, 1866, to which union was born one child — living — Millie. Mr. Mentzer, now seventy-six years old. is retired from active work. He is a democrat, has been justice of the peace, commissioner three terms and has served in numerous township offices. H e is a Mason and is most highly honored by his fellow-citizens.

As printed in A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio; (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.