Isaac Ludwig

SAAC LUDWIG, one of the prominent < farmers of Marion township, residing on a well-improved farm in section 32, is a survivor of the Civil War. He is a member of a stanch old American family and of a pioneer one in Ohio. He was born January 3,. 1842, at Stringtown, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Louisa (DeLong) Ludwig, and a grandson of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fink) Ludwig.

The Ludwig name in America dates back to the time of George Washington, for it was during the War of the Revolution that an ancestor of the subject of this sketch joined the army under Washington. He was the great-grandfather of Jacob Ludwig, our subject’s father, who came as a pioneer into Marion township, Allen County, Ohio. One of the sons of the above named Revolutionary soldier, Jacob by name, married a Miss Reece, who is supposed to have been a native of Germany. She became the mother of nine children and died at her home on the banks of the Susquehanna River, near the towns of Mifftinville and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, many years before her husband, who lived to the age of go years. One of their children was given the family name of Jacob and he was the father of Jacob Ludwig, grandfather of our subject.

This Jacob Ludwig was born in Pennsylania, probably near the Susquehanna River.

He married Elizabeth Fink, a member of an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family which was established near Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Sophia, William, Jacob and George W. Grandfather Ludwig was a soldier of the War of 1812. In 1818 he moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, and died on his farm in that county in 1824, aged 33 years. His widow married George Crites, and they had two daughters—Fredericka and Ozilla, the former. of whom married John Deal and the latter, Josephus Drum, both of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Mrs. George Crites died September 26, 1879, and George Crites died in Pickaway County, prior to this. Sophia Ludwig, the only daughter of Jacob Ludwig, married Charles Crites in 1833, and removed with her husband to Allen County in 1839; it was at her home that her mother passed away. The children of Charles and Sophia (Ludwig) Crites were: Daniel, Jacob, Catherine, Betsey, Rebecca, Cyrus, Elias, Emanuel, Mary E., Charles, George and Fredericka.

Jacob Ludwig, father of our subject, was born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, December 10, 1818, and was six years old when his father died. At the age of eight, on account of his mother’s straitened circumstances, he was bound out, first to Peter Maney and then to John Pontius. His experience with these men, both of whom were harsh task-masters, was the sad one to which childhood, in those days, was obliged to submit. He endured privations, indignities and long hours of labor until he was 15 years old, when his mother took him to the home of John Crites, where he remained until he was 18 years of age. He was then apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, with Charles Crites, his brother-in-law, with whom he almost completed his apprenticeship. Then he returned to John Crites, with whom he lived two more years, during a part of this time being proprietor of a blacksmith shop.

On March 2, 1841, Jacob Ludwig was married to Louisa DeLong, who was a daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Laudig) De- Long, a family originally from Pennsylvania; later, pioneers in Pickaway County, Ohio. The DeLongs had 11 children, and Louisa, mother of our subject, was the seventh child. Their names were as follows: John, Rebecca, Isaac, Elizabeth, Susan, Catherine, Louisa, Caroline, Sarah, Amelia and Andrew. Louisa DeLong was a descendant of Huguenot families, which were driven out of France, about 1620, during their persecution. An ancestor by the name of Peter DeLong came to this country in 1720. On his arrival at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he took his family to Berks County near the present city of Reading, Pennsy]vania. A descendant of his was drowned or crushed under a raft of logs in the Little Schuylkill River about 1799, leaving a wife and five children, one of whom, Andrew, was the father of Louisa DeLong, the mother of Isaac Ludwig. Andrew DeLong married Catherine Laudig, a daughter of Peter and Catherine Laudig. Peter Laudig was a descendant of a Huguenot family; his wife Catherine was a descendant of a Hebrew family, which were driven out of France and came to New York on account of religious persecutions.

After this marriage, Jacob Ludwig settled at Stringtown, Pickaway County, where the family lived until after the birth of our subject, and then removed to Adelphi, Ross

County, for seven years and from there to near Elida, Allen County, in May, 1849. He worked there at his forge until the following September, when he purchased a tract of land containing 3944 acres in section 33, Marion township, Allen County, situated on the Auglaize River. The land was all wild with the exception of 16 acres, on which Mr. Ludwig found a log cabin, which served for the family home until the following year, when he completed the residence which still stands in good condition. He became a very large landowner before his death, having accumulated some 575 acres, mainly situated in Marion township. He had excellent business perceptions and was of industrious habits, and was aided in his work by the help and advice of his good wife Louisa. He was also a man of moral purpose and religious conviction. Prior to moving to Allen County, he had been a Lutheran, later he attended the Methodist Church, but on February 12, 1869, he united with the Presbyterian Church, of Delphos, Ohio, under Rev. Reed. Two of his sons, Isaac and Obed A., are elders in the Presbyterian Church—Isaac in the Delphos church and Obed A. in the Bluffton church.

The children of Jacob and Louisa Ludwig were as follows: Isaac; John D., born October. 14, 1849, who lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Charles C., born May 12, 1853, who lives in Marion township; Mary Jane, born February 2, 1856, who is the wife of George W. King, residing near Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio; Obed A., born March 20, 1859, who resides at Bluffton; and Jacob L., born December 13, 1861, who resides in Marion township near the residence in which he was born.

Jacob Ludwig died February 21, 1903, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 11 days. At that time six of his nine children were living, 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was also survived by his second wife, formerly Mrs. Sophia (Crites) Dennis, a daughter of John Crites. At the time of his first marriage Mr. Ludwig’s means were so small that he was obliged to borrow the money with which to pay the minister his fee, Mr. Ludwig lived to see his signature honored at every financial institution where it was presented and for almost any amount. Although his education was meagre, attending but part of a three-months term of school, he was a well-read man and a thorough student of the Bible, many of the leaves of a number of copies in his home being worn from constant perusal as to be no longer unable when his kindly eyes were no longer able to read over promises precious to him. His was no lip service at his church, for he loved the sanctuary and was seldom absent from his accustomed place, until he partly lost the sense of hearing. He still continued, however, to pay liberally to the support of the church when asked.

Isaac Ludwig was the eldest born of these estimable, worthy parents and his home training was all in the direction of industry, temperance and morality. He was seven years old when his parents came to Allen County and his schooling was secured in the little log structures, which at that time were considered entirely adequate for the educational needs of the children. He was reared a practical farmer and prior to the outbreak of the Civil War his horizon was probably bounded entirely in his thoughts with the limits of his county. When recruits began to pour into the towns from the peaceful, surrounding farms, our subject was one of the first to offer his services and was enlisted in Company B, McLaughlin’s Squadron, Ohio Vol. Cav., in which he served three years, receiving an honorable discharge as a paroled prisoner from Libby Prison, where he had been incarcerated for a time. Mr. Ludwig relates many interesting incidents of war times, many of those which seldom get into print and in many of which he took part. Space must be given here for at least one of these on account of its pleasant sequel. On March 11, 1865, while the command was stationed near Fayetteville, North Carolina, he, with four companions, was detailed to go on a foraging expedition. The party soon reached a mill not a great distance from their camp. Two of the party were detailed to grind corn in the mill while the other two went to the farmhouse to prospect for some chickens. In the meantime a squad of Wheeler’s troopers, belonging to the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, slipped up to the mill, and in short order our subject and his companions were made prisoners of war. The officer in charge of the arresting party was Lieut. Albery K. Houk, who, with southern courtesy, treated his prisoners well. Before sending them on to Richmond, the officer asked a favor of Mr. Ludwig, to whom he seemed especially attracted. This was, that when exchanged, the Union soldier should write up the circumstances and send the account to the father of Lieutenant Houk, the son he could not reach, and assure him of his son’s welfare. It is needless to add that Mr. Ludwig did so, and the reply he received he values as one of his treasures. This did not close the incident. In 1895, when attending the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Ludwig learned that the former Confederate officer was living on a farm near, Rowletts, Kentucky, on the route to the Mammoth Cave. He quickly made his decision to call on his former captor after visiting the great natural wonder. He relates that the genuine Southern hospitality afforded him and his wife by members of the Houk family, will never be forgotten. The acquaintance and friendship is still maintained, pictures have been exchanged, and it is likely that should either Mr. Ludwig or Lieutenant Houk be questioned as to what is the present point of issue between the Blue and the Gray, both would answer with emphasis, “Nothing.”

In 1866 Mr. Ludwig was married to Sophronia J. Harbaugh, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Exline) Harbaugh. The late Thomas Harbaugh died in Steuben County, Indiana, April 7, 1884. He was born in Harbaugh’s Valley, near Sabillasville, Frederick County, Maryland, in 1796, and was a son of Yost Harbaugh, a farmer in the valley. He and his family were among the first converts of Otterbein and Boehm, the founders of the United Brethren Church. His commodious barn was used for many years as a temple of worship. His grandfather, named Ludwig Harbaugh, born in Switzerland about the year. 1728, was a member of the original family that emigrated from Switzerland to America in

L772: Thomas Harbaugh’s education was limited in scope, his chances for attending school being very small. He was apprenticed in boyhood to a cabinet-maker, and became a thorough workman at the craft. He always said that what was worth doing at all was worth doing well and carried this idea out in all his activities. His pioneer life taught him frugal habits and these he retained through life. His character was steadfast; his manner of life, simple and unostentatious. He lived every day alike. His word was one of honor among all his acquaintances.

Mr. Harbaugh was married in Maryland, but soon after marriage moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, and later to Sandyville, Ohio, where all his children were born, except the first four. In 1846 to 1847 he removed to Putnam County, Ohio, and bought a quartersection in Pleasant township, and the next year moved his family to the new home, which at that time was in the midst of a forest. Settlers were few and far apart. His children numbered 13; three of these died in infancy, and one at the age of 17 years. Nine lived to marry and rear families of their own and, of the nine, six are still living, the youngest of these nearing his both birthday. Two sons were volunteers in the Civil War; one of these, Valentine Harbaugh, now resides at Bunker Hill, Kansas, while the other, Rev. T. J. Harbaugh, is a minister well known all over this part of the State. Mr. Harbaugh, wife and daughter lie side by side in Truro Cemetery near Columbus Grove, and an enduring granite shaft marks their resting place.

The children born to Isaac Ludwig and wife were four in number, namely:. Thomas J., Omar IL., Luella and Edwin Guy. Luella died at the age of 16 years, a crushing grief to the family. Thomas J. married Daisy Peters, of Allen County and has two children—Mary and Lawrence Dana. They reside on “Sunny Side Farm,” owned by Mr. Ludwig. The second son married Daisie Musetta Taylor, and they have four children—Cecil Rowland, Sidney Merwin, Nellie and an infant. They live on the old homestead farm, in section 28, a property owned by Mr. Ludwig. Edwin Guy, the youngest son, lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is employed in the operating depart- '

ment of the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway. He is not only a splendid specimen of physical manhood, weighing over 200 pounds, but is also a many, pleasant young gentleman. He spent three years in the Philippine Islands as a member of the Hospital Corps, in the United States Army. 7 Mr. Ludwig has long been one of Marion township’s representative citizens, foremost in all movements of local importance and one of the solid, substantial, well-informed men of his neighborhood. He is president of the Farmers’ Institute in Marion township, is a member of Marion Grange, No. 302, of which he has been master, and belongs to Edith Lodge, Knights of Honor. For many years he has been identified with Masonic bodies, being a member of Hope Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M.; Delphos Chapter, No. 105, R. A. M.; Council No. 72, R. & S. M., and is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He takes an active interest also in Reul Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a valued member. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Ludwig accompany this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.

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As printed in History of Allen county, Ohio and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.