David E. Lutz

As printed in 1902

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 A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.