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.
Born 1833
From The history of Wyandot county, Ohio, containing a history of the county: its townships, towns, churches, schools, etc.; (1884), Biographical memoirs of Wyandot County, Ohio : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many national characters and well known residents (1902)
JOHN SEIDER, of the firm of Seider & Ludwig, carriage manufacturers, was born in Wittenburg, Germany, March 31, 1833. He is the son of Jacob and Catharine Seider, the former being accidentally killed in his native country in 1837. John Seider emigrated to America with his mother and six children in 1852, and located in Upper Sandusky. He acquired a knowledge of carriage-making in Germany, and on settling in Upper Sandusky, engaged with William Barringer at $6 per month, remaining in his employ four years. At the expiration of this time he began business for himself on a capital of $150, manufacturing wagons and ox carts. He continued this business nine years, forming a partnership with D. Hale in 1865, and conducted the business six years under the firm name of Seider & Hale. He then pm'chased Mr. Hale's interest, and subsequently admitted Frank Beidler; in 1880, Mr. Beidler retired and the partnership of Seider & Ludwig was established, which continued till the spring of 1884, when Mr. Seidler became the sole owner and proprietor. He employs from fifteen to twenty workmen, and does an extensive business, manufacturing wagons, carriages and buggies. Mr. Seider estimates his property at about $20,000. He was married November 22, 1857, to Rosina Agerter, four children resulting from this union, viz.: Clara V., Minnie B. and Elizabeth. The deceased was an infant, Harry, who died in 1861. The death of Mrs. Seider occurred December 23, 1863, and Mr. Seider was again married January 5, 1865, to Amelia Meyer, widow of Jacob Meyer, by whom she had one child, Louisa A., born in Switzerland, November 24, 1858. She emigrated to America with her mother in 1861, then three years of age. By this second marriage Mr. Seidler has had five children — four living — John J., Edwin, Anna and Alice. Mr. Seidler has served in nearly all the city offices, and has been a prominent member of the F. & A. M. since 1872. He is a Democrat, and member of the German Lutheran Charch, and is recognized as one of the most successful business men of the city. He is a man of excellent character, of generous impulses, aied though always carefully guarding his own interests, has never lost an opportunity to lend his aid in enhancing the interests of the public generally.
As printed in The history of Wyandot county, Ohio, containing a history of the county: its townships, towns, churches, schools, etc.; (1884). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN SEIDER.
The subject of this sketch has long figured as one of the leading manufacturers and prominent citizens of Upper Sandusky. For fifty years he has resided in the city and most of his time has not only been a witness to its growth and development, but has also been an active participant in its industrial enterprises. A substantial and forceful factor in all that tends to promote the material prosperity of both city and county, it is appropriate that mention be made of him in this connection.
John Seider is a native of Germany, born in Wittenburg, March 31, 1833. Pie is the son of Jacob and Catherine Seider, the former accidentally killed in his native country in 1837. After attending school for some years and acquiring a good practical education, he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, with whom he served three and a half years, paying for the privilege of learning the trade and working each day many hours over the regular time. In addition to general blacksmithing, he also acquired a knowledge of wagon and carriage making and being skilled in the use of tools he early could turn his hands to any kind of mechanical work. In August. 185a, in company with his mother and six younger brothers and sisters, he took passage on the sail boat "Havre" for the United States and after a voyage of three weeks' duration landed in Xew York. A short time prior to the above date, his stepfather, Frederick Frey, preceded him to the new world and located in Upper Sandusky, to which place; the subject and. family at once proceeded,
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
;. into the house, but still continued to look after his younger brothers and sisters and plan for their future. In 1857 he purchased the lot where his shop now stands for one hundred and fifty dollars, the sum total of his capital, andfrom that time dates his progress as one of the city's most energetic and successful business men. He began on a small scale at horseshoeing and the manufacture of wagons, in connection with which he also carried on general blacksmithing and repairing, gradually enlarging the scope of his enterprise until he found it necessary to employ several assistants in order to meet the demand for his work. He continued the business nine years, forming a partnership with D. Hale in 1865, which, under the firm name of Seider & Hale, lasted until about 1871. In that year he purchased his associate’s interest and subsequently admitted Frank Beidler. who continued hi? partner till 1880, when the firm of Seider & Ludwig was established. This relationship lasted until the spring of 1884, at which time Mr. Seider became sole proprietor and he managed the enterprise with gratifying financial results until 1888 when his son, John J. Seider, was taken in as a partner. Two years later another son, Edwin, was admitted, since which time the firm has been known as Seider & Sons. To meet the constantly increasing demand for his products and do the vast amount of blacksmithing and general repairing required, Mr. Seider found it necessary to increase the capacity of his factory from time to time. This he did and the business is now carried on in two large, substantial and systematically arranged brick buildings, two stories high and in area thirty by sixty feet and thirty by one hundred and twenty-five feet.
respectively. There is also a large ware room twenty-four by seventy feet in size, and the entire plant, representing a capital j of many thousand dollars, is supplied with the latest and most approved machinery and appliances needed in the manufacture of high grade buggies, carriages, wagons and vehicles of ail kinds, in which a number of 1 skilled mechanics are employed. The rep- ! station that Mr. Seider’s workmanship has acquired throughout the state has increased i the already large demand, to meet which the factory is kept running at its full capacity f. every working day in the year.
Mr. Seider's business, since coming to Upper Sandusky a penniless boy, has been most remarkable. Slowdy but surely he ! overcame the many obstacles which best his pathway and, gradually forging to the front, he is now at the head of one of the largest and most important industrial concerns of the city and he is also classed among the well-to-do men of the place. Besides his factory he Owns valuable city property, including a fine, large brick residence and other dwellings which he rents, every dollar’s worth of property earned by own labor ! or by his successful management.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
! wife of George Savage; Minnie, wife of William Shannon, a druggist of Upper San- 1 dusky; and Elizabeth, who is still a memj her of the home circle; one child. Harry, died when an infant in i8<>r. The second marriage was solemnized January 5, 1865, with Mrs. Amelia (Fistler) Meyer, widow of the late Jacob Meyer. This union resulted in the birth of five children: John J., Edwin. Anna, Alice and Frank, deceased. The first two are associated with their father in the manufacturing business and all four are living under the parental roof. By her previous marriage Mrs. Seider had one daughter, Louise Meyer, now the wife of Frank Brandt, and resides in Upper Sandusky.
Mr. Seider served two years as township trustee of Crane township, was a member of the city council seven years and for two terms held the office of township treasurer, of Crane township and was also a member of the school board for two terms. In these positions he displayed the energy and ability characteristic of him in his business enterprises and left the offices with records untainted by the slightest breath of suspicion. He has been a member of Warpole Lodge, Xo. 176, F. & A. M., since 1870 and, while not a member of any church, is liberal in his contributions to religious and benevolent movements. In the language of another, “Mr. Seider is recognized among the most successful business men of Upper Sandusky." ‘‘He is a man of excellent character. of generous impulses and, though always guarding his own interests, has never lost an opportunity to lend aid in enhancing the interests of the public generally." He is a splendid example of the successful, self-made man and his life forcibly illustrates what can be accomplished by a young man of determined purpose who gave little heed to the frowns of adverse fortune. Intelligent, enterprising in all he undertakes, loyal to the institutions he takes precedence as one of the leading German-American citizens in a country noted for its composite nationality. He has added luster to the city of his residence and his name will go down to future generations as one of its most distinguished business men.
As printed in Biographical memoirs of Wyandot County, Ohio : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many national characters and well known residents (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John Seider: Marion B. Myers
The printed record stops around 1884. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.