In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1851, Hancock County
From History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906), A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio; (1896)
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I Ketzenbarger, the former of whom died in Hancock county. Ohio, in 1858, and the latter in Wood county, Ohio, in 1874, at the age of eighty years. Sebastian was reared to farming, and about 1847 married Rachael Cramer, daughter of Philip and Christina (Harmon)
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John Ketzenbarger, our subject, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools of his township. In 1872 he married Miss Mary
Fackler, daughter of Henry and Nancy (Bear) Fackler, whose biography is attached hereto. To this union have been born five children, viz.: Homer M., Hermi I., Florence E.,
Alice and Earnest J. Mrs. Ketzenbarger was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1853, and was married in Wood county, where her husband had located in 1866, and where he followed farming until 1890, when he came to Van Wert county and purchased his present home, which is one of the finest farms in Hoaglin township. In February, 1893, Mr. Kentzenbarger met with a serious accident on the Pittsburg railroad, near Columbus City, two coaches, in one of which he was a passenger, being precipitated down an embankment about twenty-five feet deep, killing one passenger outright and injuring some thirty others. In this disaster Mr. Ketzenbarger had a shoulder dislocated and sustained a number of other injuries, from which he has not yet fully recovered. In politics Mr. Ketzenbarger is a democrat, and holds the office of township treasurer: fraternally he is a member of Van Wert lodge, No. 251, I. O. O. F., and is recognized by the community at large as a straightforward, upright gentleman; as a farmer he is progressive and prosperous, taking an active interest in the welfare of his county and aiding in every public enterprise designed for its advancement.
Henry H. Fackler, a prominent farmer of Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in [823, to Abraham and Barbara (Hough) P'acker. Abraham Fackler was born in the same county in 1777, and was a son of Wentle Fackler, who was born in Germany, in 1746. At the age of seventeen years Wentle came to America, and was sold or apprenticed, on the streets of Philadelphia, for three years to reimburse the funds necessary to defray his passage expenses, but by the time his term had half expired he was released by his master and employed at regular laboring rates. Two years later he returned to his native country for his mother and two brothers, his father having been killed in battle. On his return to America he served three years in the Revolution under Washington, enduring the hardships'of Valley Forge and encountering Burgoyne in the north and Cornwallis in the south. He then bought a tract of land from the government and hewed out a home. He married Anna Rank, and to this union were born ten children, of whom Abraham was the eldest son, and departed his life in 1823, a member of the Presbyterian church.
Abraham Fackler, father of Henry H., was reared on his father’s farm, and also learned the trade of weaving. He took an active part in the war of 1812, and fought, among other places, in the battles of Buffalo, N. Y., and Baltimore, Md. In early life he was a Presbyterian, but later became a German Baptist, and married, March 30, 1801, Barbara Hough, daughter of Henry Hough, who was a Revolutionary officer, and to this marriage were born fourteen children, of whom two only are still living — Wentle and Henry H. The mother of these was born in 1781, of German parentage, was also a member of the German Baptist church, and died May 10, 1844 — the father surviving until January 12, 1866, when he died in Richland county, Ohio.
Henry H. Fackler was reared a farmer, and became quite accomplished in both the German and English languages In 1840 he came with his father from Pennsylvania, in wagons, to Richland county, Ohio, and here began farming for himself on an eighty-acre tract, which he drained and improved with good and substantial buildings, but in 1868 sold and bought land in Wood county. Ohio, where he lived nearly twenty-two years. In 1 S90 he sold this farm, increased to 200 acres, and bought his present home of 239 acres, in addition to which he has given homes to his children. On September 7, 1843, Henry H. Fackler married Nancy Bear, who was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in 1819, a daughter of Henry and Maria (Nisley) Bear, and this marriage has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Jacob, deceased; Solomon, farmer of Union township, Van Wert county; Emanuel, deceased; Mary, wife of John Ketzenbarger, of Hoaglin township; Leah, deceased; Sarah A., married to Addison Fry, of Union township (deceased); Alice, married to William Young, a farmer of Union township. In his politics Mr. Fackler is conservative, voting for a good man rather than for a party nominee.
As printed in A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio; (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
BOHN KETZENBARGER. One of the old and well-established families of Ohio, of German extraction, is that of Ketzenbarger, and a worthy representative of it is found in John Ketzenbarger, who owns a fine farm of 160 acres of valuable land, which is situated in section 28, Hoaglin township, Van Wert County. Mr. Ketzenbarger was born on November. 28, 1851, not far from Findlay, in Hancock County, Ohio, and is a son of Sebastian and Rachel (Cramer) Ketzenbarger, and a grandson of Michael and Eve (Stanngy) Ketzenbarger.
In 1835 the grandparents of John Ketzenbarger emigrated from Germany to America. They belonged to the best class of Germans and through their thrift and industry developed a fine farm in Hancock County, Ohio, on which both died.
Sebastian Ketzenbarger was born August 31, 1823, in Germany, and was the only son in his father's family. The latter had been the only son in the grandfather's family. Sebastian was 12 years old when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, where his whole life was spent as a farmer and stock-raiser. He married Rachel Cramer, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Philip and Christina Cramer. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer were both born in Pennsylvania of German ancestry, and removed to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1830. Mrs. Ketzenbarger had three brothers and one sister, of whom one brother only is living — Daniel Cramer, who lives on his farm eight miles west of Findlay; he is 86 years old, while his wife is 80. The children of Sebastian Ketzenbarger and wife were: Isabella (Wentz), deceased; John, the subject of this sketch; Andrew, of Wood County, Ohio; Sarah, deceased; Irena (Fisher), of Ridge township; George W. and Ella (twins), the former a resident of Hoaglin township and the latter deceased in infancy; Oliver, the operator of the home farm; and Mary Ann (Foltz) of Hoaglin township. Mrs. Sebastian Ketzenbarger was a member of the United Brethren Church.
John Ketzenbarger went to school until he was 15 years old, in the meantime assisting his
Google father on the farm. The family then removed to Wood County and settled near the present site of North Baltimore, and there our subject resided until 1890, when he came to Van Wert County and settled on a farm of 160 acres, in section 28, Hoaglin township, which he still owns but which is occupied by his sonic-law. Mr. Ketzenbarger farmer this property himself until 1902, when he turned it over to his son-in-law, J. C. Sherburn, who is a very capable farmer. Since then he#has resided with his aged father-in-law, in section 21, Union township, the latter being a widower with all his children married and with domestic ties of their own.
On February 22, 1872, Mr. Ketzenbarger was married to Mary Elizabeth Fackler, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, not far from Mansfield, on January 29, 1853. She is a daughter of Henry H. and Nancy (Bear) Fackler. Nancy (Bear) Fackler, mother of Mrs. Ketzenbarger, was born March 14, 1819, near Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, where her father, Henry Bear, owned a fine farm. On this farm he built a stone barn in 1819. This historic bam is a landmark, having been remodeled a few years ago and still stands as an example of the substantial character of the building of long ago. The father of Henry Bear was a Swiss Waldensian, who emigrated from Switzerland to America, shortly before the Revolutionary War, a member of a colony which came either to escape religious persecution, willing to give up all the temporal wealth and advantages they had in their own land in order that they might worship according to their belief, in peace and safety.
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War, and after its close settled down to an agricultural life. At the time of his death he owned 12 fine farms in Pennsylvania, one of which, known as the “Mansion Farm,” came into the possession of his son Henry, and on that Mrs. Fackler was born. Her brothers and sisters, eight in number, lived to be 60 years of age, two dying young. Her mother lived to be 79 years old but her father died at the age of 54 years. Mrs. Fackler was reared in the Mennonite faith. She was faithful to every duty in life and was beloved for her many Christian traits. She died January 23, 1897.
Henry H. Fackler, father of Mrs. Ketzenbarger, was born near Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on June 23, 1823, and was a son of Abram and Barbara (Hough) Fackler, natives of Pennsylvania. Abram Fackler lived to be 89 years old, while his wife died at the age of 83. Abram Fackler was a son of Wendal Fackler, who was born in Germany and came to Philadelphia when a young man some years before the Revolutionary War. He worked to earn money to bring to America his two brothers, George and Adam Fackler, who after they arrived here served all through the Revolutionary War. Henry H. Fackler holds an old deed as a relic that was made in 1807 by his grandfather, Wendel Fackler, to Abram Fackler, father of Henry H. Fackler, which came into his possession when he settled up his father’s estate. Abram Fackler had a fine farm in Pennsylvania and helped his 1 1 children to homes. He lived to advanced years and became so childish that he did not know his own children, although he never forgot to pray, being always faithful to his Christian duties. The brothers and sister of Henry H. Fackler were 14 in number, of whom n lived to be married; five lived to be 82 years old — Mr. Fackler, himself is now nearly 83 and is the only one living of the family. All died in Pennsylvania and Ohio but three; of these three, Samuel Fackler and Mrs. Hunsbarger died in Iowa while Wendel Fackler died in South Dakota; Samuel Fackler had one son who served all through the Civil war and is now 64 years of age. Henry H. Fackler saw both his grandfathers, Fackler and Hough, <who served in the Revolutionary War.
When 1 7 years old, Henry H. Fackler accompanied his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where, on September 7, 1843, mar" ried Nancy Bear. They had eight children, the two survivors of the family being: Mrs.
Mary E. Ketzenbarger and Solomon B. Fackler, a resident of Union township. The others were: Emanuel, Leah, Sarah Ann (Fry),
Martin and Alice (Young).
Henry H. Fackler owned and cleared an 80-acre farm, near Mansfield, in Richland County, Ohio. In 1869 he sold his farm and with his family moved to Wood County, where he bought 200 acres of land and lived thereon for 22 years. In 1891 he again sold and then removed to. near Union Center, Van Wert County, where he purchased 240 acres of land. Subsequently he sold 80 of this, but still retains 160 acres. When he came to Van Wert County, he had four married children, all of whom he had assisted to secure homes. He still resides on his farm in section 21, Union township. Although almost 83 years of age, he takes an interest in family happenings and daily reads his Bible, being able to do so without the aid of glasses. He was reared in the faith of the German Baptist Church. All his life he has been a man of sterling character, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men. He is passing the evening of life honored and respected and carefully looked after by affectionate kindred.
Mr. and Mrs. Ketzenbarger have five children, as follows: Homer, who is a prosperous farmer in Union township; Hernia Irena, who is the wife of C. E. Miller, of Van Wert; Florence Etta, who is the wife of C. E. Sherburn. of Van Wert; Alice, who is the wife of J. C. Sherburn, manager of the Ketzenbarger homestead in Hoaglin township; and Ernest, who is still is school.
Mr. Ketzenbarger is one of the leading and influential Democrats of this section and on numerous occasions he has been called upon to accept positions of responsibility in county and township. In 1897 he was elected a county commissioner and served as such for three years. He also served three terms as treasurer of Hoaglin township, one of these by appointment and two by election. His public services have been entirely satisfactory to his fellow citizens and his reputation is that of an able, honorable and hard-working official. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Elks, both at Van Wert.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ketzenbarger belong to families whose prudence, wisdom, industry and success, have given proof of those qualities which make up the very best citizenship of America. For generations they have been home-builders, have cultivated their own lands and have given support and encouragement to education and religion in every community in which they have lived.
As printed in History of Van Wert 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.
Named in this biography: Francis M. Ball (b. 1855)
Their biographies name John Ketzenbarger: Salomon B. Fackler (b. 1847) Min Ketzenbarger (b. 1851)
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.