John C. Amstutz

As printed in 1885

JOHN C. AMSTUTZ, farmer, P. O. Bluffton, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, December 12, 1825; son of Christian and Anna (Burkhalter) Amstutz, natives of Switzerland, who came to America and settled in Wayne County about 1824, former a farmer. They reared a family of six children (three sons and three daughters), of whom John C. is the eldest. Our subject received a common school education in Putnam County, Ohio, where his parents moved when most of the county was a wilderness. He used to drive the oxen over the wheat to thresh it, and, when it was ready, had to go many miles to a mill to have it ground. He worked from the time he was large enough to do anything, and can remember when Richland Township was almost covered with woods. He has been thrice married. The children by his first wife ( nee Anna Amstutz to whom he was married March 2, 1848) were Abraham (deceased), and Fannie, and those by his second wife ( nee Mary Ann Habegger, to whom he was married February 17, 1853) were Isaac (deceased), Jacob and Anna (twins) both now married, and Elizabeth (deceased). Mr. Amstutz was married to his present wife (nee Anna Kaufman, February 15, 1861), and to this union were born eleven children, nine now living: Catherine (married), Lydia, Peter, Lena, Christian, Sarah, Noah, Gideon and Ida; Mary and Josephine (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Amstutz are members of the Mennonite Church. Our subject has had to make his own way in the world. He owns eighty acres of land which he has cleared and improved, himself. Politically he is a Democrat.

As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.