In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
HENRY N. OBERLANDER.
The gentleman whose name is mentioned above and who is a well-known farmer of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, is descended from old and honorable trans-Atlantic stock, which was transplanted to one of our eastern colonies, whence his father, Emanuel Oberlander, emigrated to Ohio at a period early enough to be counted among the pioneers of this great state.
All those qualities of mind and heart, all those characteristics which make for personal success and good citizenship, have been conspicuous in nearly every generation of his family.
Henry N. Oberlander is a native of Lykens township, Crawford county, and was born on the lath day of March, 1863. He received his early education in such crude public schools near his home as were in vogue at that time and was early- initiated into the mysteries of practical farming. According to his father what was his father's due, he remained with him, assisting" him in every wTay possible, until he was twenty-one years old, then with willing" hands and active brain and a clean record he took up the battle of life on his own account. He began his independent business career by renting the farm which he now owns, which became his by purchase in 1895. The farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres of well improved and very productive land, in connection with which for the past ten years he has cultivated the Shalter farm. He has made many improvements on his place and gives his attention to general farming, in which he has been satisfactorily successful. Mr. Oberlander also owns and operates the grain, elevator at Lykens, and in partnership with G. B. Ouaintance owns and operates a grain elevator at Ridgeton, Ohio.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Politically Mr. Oberlander affiliates with the Democratic party and he exerts a not uncertain influence on local affairs. AYhile he has never been an office seeker, a considerable number of responsible offices have sought him and in the interests of good government he has accepted them. He has twice filled the office of assessor in his township, and for five years has been a member of the board of education. During this time he has done everything* in his power to improve the efficiency of the schools, and in the fall of 1900 was elected to the office of county commissioner, which he is filling with great ability and credit. It may be said of him that he is a man of pronounced public spirit, and his admiring fellow citizens bear testimony to the fact that he may safely be depended upon to advance to the extent of his ability any movement, which in his good judgment promises to benefit the people of his township or county. He is a member of Lykens Lodge, No. 530, Knights < >f Pythias.
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.
H. N. OBERLANDER,* a leading business man of Bucyrus, O., a reliable contractor and for some four years largely engaged in building streets in this and other cities, belongs to one of the old families of Crawford county. His grandfather, Jacob Oberlander, came from Germany to this county at an early date, taking up lands in Lykens township and establishing his family here on a sound foundation. H. N. Oberlander was born on the family homestead, in 1863, and is a son of Emanuel Oberlander, the second born son in his grandfather's family.
Emanuel Oberlander was three years old when his parents came to Crawford county and more or less spent his life on the homestead which comprised a three-quarter section of land. He developed into a careful and successful farmer and good business man and from time to time added to the property he had inherited. His death occurred in 1902, whu he was 63 years of age. Politically he was a Democrat. In his religious views he was in sympathy with the religious body known as the Albright Methodists. He married Lydia Spade, a native of Crawford county, who still occupies the old homestead in Lykens township. Six children were born to them as follows: Mary, who is the wife of George Haines of New Washington Crawford county, and has two children: Willis, who resides on the old farm with his mother; Galen, who resides with his family in Lykens township, father of one son; H. N., who has resided at Bucyrus ever since he was elected a county commissioner; George, who lives on the old farm, and who is married and has one child; and Jennie, who is the wife of Christopher Miller, a farmer in Lykens township and has two sons and one daughter.
H. N. Oberlander obtained his education in the country schools and grew up on the home farm and for a number of years devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. A man of force and character he secured the confidence of his fellow citizens all over the county and in 1893 was elected a county commissioner and served for six years. During this time he had become a resident of Bucyrus, where he has resided ever since. His leading business for some years has been street and road contracting and building, and additionally he deals in hay. In politics he is a Democrat and at different times has been elected to about all of the township offices, in every one of which he has given efficient and honest service.
In Lykens township, Crawford county, on July 10, 1884, Mr. Oberlander was married to Miss Lillie M. Dellinger, who was born 45 years ago at Lima, in Allen county, O., the youngest child of David and Amanda (William) Dellinger. Her father, David Dellinger, was also born in Lykens township, a son of Joseph and Susanna (Smith) Dellinger, pioneers in that section. David Dellinger was a merchant at Lima, O., for ten years prior to his death, which occurred when Mrs. Oberlander was young. Mrs. Dellinger when left a widow came to Lykens township with her three children and died here Feb. 2. 1905. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Oberlander has two sisters: Mollie and Mattie. The former is the wife of Alexander Flickinger, a farmer in Texas township, Crawford county, and has two children, Edith and Harry. Edith is the wife of Ralph Larue and has two children. Harry resides with his wife on a farm near Plankton, O. Mattie is the wife of H. S. Shupp and they live on a farm in Lykens township. They have one daughter, Maria, who is the wife of Prof. Earl Hall, who is principal of the public schools at Fowler, Colo.
Mr. and Mrs. Oberlander have had two children: N. Winona and Chalmer L. The daughter, who died in the flower of young womanhood, when aged but 20 years, Oct. 26,
1905, was a beautiful and talented girl. Her parents had given her educational advantages and she had taught school for three years. She was universally admired and beloved. Chalmer L. Oberlander was born Nov. 4, 1887, and is associated with his father and has proven a reliable business man. Mrs. Oberlander is a member of the Free Will Baptist church.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: N. Oberlander (b. 1863)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.