Henry Lincoln Kuenzli

As printed in 1913

HENRY LINCOLN KUENZLI.

Henry Lincoln Kuenzli, of the firm of Kuenzli Brothers, manufacturers of drain tile and retail hardware dealers, at Nevada, Wyandot county, Ohio, was born at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, April 21, 1865. He is the third son of Frederick and Josephine (Hochstetler) Kuenzli. The father, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ramsier) Kuenzli, the former born in 1790 in Canton Bern, Switzerland, was a native of that country, born in Canton Bern, May 23, 1834, and emigrated to America with his parents in his infancy. The family settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, removing to Upper Sandusky, Wyandot county, Ohio, shortly after his marriage, which occurred March 18, 1859, at Navarre, Ohio. His death occurred December 23, 1891. The ancestry of the Kuenzli family has honorable mention in the history and military records of Switzerland, among them being Colonel Joseph Kuenzli, who served his country gallantly in suppression of an insurrection, and was rewarded with promotion to high official position in the national government.

The mother was a member of the Hochstetler family, whose genealogy is traced back for six generations, the number of her father's family (Elias Hochstetler) being 2,207. His ancestor was Jacob Hochstetler, who was born in the highlands of Germany, along the Rhine, and who emigrated to America, and arrived at Philadelphia, September 1, 1736, as recorded in the history of the Hochstetler family, which volume includes one thousand one hundred and ninety-one pages, and contains a biography of over ten thousand individuals, together with much interesting religious and historical matter. The mother was born April 18, 1839, near Walnut Creek, Holmes county, Ohio, and died December 11, 1905, at Nevada, Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and

, Google also a tanner by trade. In their family were ten children: Frederick, deceased; Sophia, now Mrs. E. G. Blaser, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Edward S., who is the partner of our subject in the business enterprises above noted; Henry L., of this review; Clara, deceased; Charles A., now a student for the ministry at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio; John W. deceased; "William T., a farmer residing in Eden township; Grace V., now Mrs. W. G. Milligan, also of Eden township; and Elmer D., employed as clerk with the firm as above given.

H. L. Kuenzli, in the acquirement of his education, attended the public schools at Upper Sandusky, and the country schools, continuing with his parents and assisting with the work upon the farm until his twenty-third year, when, with his brother-in-law, E. G. Blaser, and his brother, Edward S., was formed the firm of Blaser & Kuenzli Brothers. The then new firm from which Mr. Blaseiretired in 1902. assumed o'ownership and management of the drain tile manufacturing industry at Nevada, Ohio, on the first day of April, 1888, to which the hardware business was added in 1894, and both of which enterprises, since the retirement of Mr. Blaser, have been successfully continued by the two brothers under the well known firm name of Kuenzli Brothers.

Mr. Kuenzli was married November 26, 1890, by Rev. D. H. Wonder, in Eden township, to Viola B., daughter of S. M. and Hester A. (Bowlby) Sigler. Mrs. Kuenzli, who was born in Antrim township, Wyandot county, Ohio, January 12, 1870, was educated in the district schools, and for several years prior to her marriage was engaged in teaching. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli are: Ruth B., bom September 11, 1891, a graduate of both the Nevada and Upper Sandusky high schools, and now a student in Oberlin College in the third year of a classical course; and [name withheld], born June 21, 1908, a bright and active child of five years.

Mr. Kuenzli gives his allegiance to the republican party and has actively participated in public life in his community, doing much to promote its interests. Fraternally, he has been a Knight of Pythias for twenty-four years, while in the Masonic order he holds membership with Nevada Lodge, No. 343, P. & A. M. and Nevada Chapter, No. 186, R. A. M., and has attained the rank of a Knight Templar, belonging to the Marion Commandery, No. 36. His religion is that of the Evangelical church, and for thirty years he has been a member

Engle of Salem parish in Eden township. Above all other associations, and above all other institutions, Mr. Kuenzli holds high and is distinctively devoted to his home. Therein his beliefs are centered on the highest interests of life, and to the companion of his life and home he freely ascribes full credit for any success to which he may have attained.

As printed in Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement; (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.