In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902), History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; h (1886)
J. B. FALTER, farmer and breeder of line stock. P. O. Attica, was born in Germany December '20, 1826, son of Philip and Christina (Kerner) Falter, also natives of Germany, who came thence to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1833. Philip Falter, who was a shoe-maker in the old country and a farmer here, was twice married, and reared eight child-en. J. B. being the youngest; the father died in 1842. Our subject was reared on the farm, obtaining his education in the log schoolhouse. He is a good English scholar, and can read, though he cannot write, the German language. Mr. Falter has been very successful. When he started for himself his father gave him $100, and to-day he owns 142 acres of land, well stocked, etc. He was married, in 1853, to Margaret Steinmetz, born in Alsace, France, in 1832, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Lang) Steinmetz, also natives of Alsace, and who came to Ainerica in 1833, and settled on a farm in Seneca County, Ohio. To our subject and wife were born the following children: Philmenia (wife of John C. Vorm). Martha (wife of Nathan Worm). John Joseph. Mary Magdalena, Ida, Annie E., William E. and Cornelius, all members of the Catholic Church. ]Mi-. Falter has been school director for eleven years. In politics he is a Democrat.
As printed in History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; h (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN B. FALTER.
Seneca county is characterized by a full share of the honored pioneer elements who have done so much for the development of the county and the state and the establishment of the institutions of higher civilization in this fertile and well-favored section of the old Buckeye commonwealth. The biographical sketches in this work are to a large extent in recognition of those who are pioneers or members of pioneer families, and it is signally fitting that there should be perpetuated records which will defy the ravages of time and betoken to the coming generations the earnest lives and devoted labors of those who have been such noble contributors to the state's prosperity and pride. The subject of this sketch is one of the venerable and honored citizens of the county, where he was for many years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and
Google where he has maintained his home from the days of his early boyhood, — representing a period of seventy years of consecutive residence in the county. He has now retired from active labors and is enjoying the aftermath of his years of earnest endeavor, having his home in the pleasant little village of St. Stephen, but still retaining his landed estate in the county.
Mr. Falter was born in Darmstadt, the beautiful old capital of the grand duchy of Hesse, Germany, on the 26th of December, 1826, and is one of the two surviving children of Philip and Christina (Koerner) Falter, his sister Margaret being the widow of Peter Cassanova and now maintaining her home in Paulding county, this state. The three other children of the family are deceased. The parents of our subject were likewise natives of Darmstadt, and the father had been previously married, the four children born of the first union being all deceased. Philip Falter was a shoemaker by trade and followed this vocation in the fatherland until the fall of 1831, when he emigrated with his family to America, making the voyage on a sailing vessel and being forty-two days on the ocean. They passed the first winter in Buffalo, New Yoik, and in the spring of 1832 set forth for their new home in the virgin forests of Seneca county, making the trip by the Great Lakes to Huron and thence coming through by wagon to Seneca county. Here Philip Falter entered claim to eighty acres of government land, one-half mile north of the present village of Carrothers, — the farm now owned by J. C. Wurm. He made a little clearing in the heavily timbered tract and there built one of the log cabins of the primitive frontier type, installed his family in the unpretentious domicile and prepared to literally hew out a farm in the midst of the forest. He vigorously continued his efforts and had made excellent developments prior to his death, which occurred in 1848, his wife surviving until 1862. Both were folk of the most sterling character and were among the most honored pioneers of this section. They were communicants of the Catholic church and their lives were in harmony with their religious faith and trust. In politics Mr. Falter was a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party.
In the early pioneer epoch the subject of this sketch might have
Google been found, as a lad, contributing his share to the arduous work of clearing the farm and adapting it to cultivation, while in the little log schoolhouse, with its luncheon floors, slab benches, yawning fireplace and oiled-paper windows, he gained his initial scholastic lore. After the death of his father he assumed charge of the home farm, and prior to his marriage, in 1853, he had acquired a half interest in this properly. He there continued to devote his attention to cultivating and improving his farm until 1856, when he disposed of the property and purchased a tract of eighty acres in Reed township, where he made his home tor seven years, at the expiration of which he disposed of the property and purchased the old Steinmetz homestead of one hundred acres, in Venice township, this having been the property of his wife's father. Later he sold this and purchased the old Marshall homestead, of one hundred and forty-two acres, in Venice township, and there he maintained his home for the long period of thirty years, making the best of improvements. He is a prosperous farmer and fine stock breeder of this locality. He still owns this farm, which is in charge of his son Cornelius.
In politics Mr. Faher has always given his support to the Democratic party, but he has never desired any official preferment. He and his wife are zealous members of the Catholic church.
In 1853 Mr. Falter was united in m.marriage to Miss Margaret Steinmetz, who has been his companion and helpmeet for nearly a half century, their golden-wedding anniversary occurring on the 15th of November, 1903. Mrs. Falter was born in Alsace, France (now a German province), being the daughter of Balthasar and Elizabeth (Long) Steinmetz, who emigrated to the United States in the spring 6i 1833, settling in Stark county, Ohio, whence a few years later they came to Seneca county, where they passed the residue of their lives. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Falter only five survive, namely: Joseph J., a resident of Allen county, Ohio; \V. Edward, a commercial salesman for the Piano Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, Illinois; Cornelius H., who has charge of the old home farm; Martha C, the wife of Matthias Wurm, of this township: and Anna E., who remains at the parental home.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Philip Falter (b. 1823)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.