In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions (1915), A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896)
OSEPH KERSTING, the popular general merchant of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of Wurternberg, Westphalia, Germany, was born April 14, 1856, and is a son of Anthony and Catherine (Doering) Kersting, who died in Germany, leaving five children, viz: Francis, -who died in Germany; Frank, a retired contractor of Westphalia; Anthony was ordained a priest in the Franciscan order at Cincinnati, Ohio, is now known as father David, and is prelate of the theological school at Oldenburg, Ind.; Felix is a merchant tailor of Miamisburg, Ohio, and Joseph is the subject of this memoir.
Joseph Kersting attended the elementary schools of his native country until thirteen years of age, and then began working by the day; at fifteen years of age he went to Bologne and entered a wine and liquor house as bottlewasher, but in less than eighteen months worked himself up to a position in the counting-room; two years later he went to Bonn, managed a business for a widow for ten months, and then, in 1874, he came to America, located in Cincinnati, and for five months was employed as,1 collector by a newspaper firm, next by Benling Bros., a Catholic book concern, for a year, and then for a short time in the liquor business. The six and a half years following he was book-keeper for a wholesale leather house, but the confinement was too wearing, and for two years following he traveled as salesman for a wholesale tailors’ trimmings house through northern Ohio, southern Michigan, the entire state of Indiana, and southwestern Illinois. A Philadelphia firm offering him better inducements, he accepted, and for four years traveled for this house over the same territory. He then came to Glandorf and embarked in his present business May 1, 1888, in partnership with Ignatius H. Kahle, the firm continuing until December 8, 1892, when Mr. Kersting succeeded as sole proprietor. He carries a line of general merchandise, as full and as well selected as any in the county, and his knowledge of the business, general tact and pleasant manners have brought him a success seldom equaled. He is by nature a public-spirited man, and has taken a decided stand in favor of public education — compulsory, if necessary- — and much credit is due him for the part he has taken in elevating the Glandorf graded schools to the present state of efficiency. He is the founder of the Glandorf Building & Loan association, which is one of the strongest organizations of the kind in the state, and is the present secretary of the concern. He is a stanch democrat, and his labors have been greatly conducive to the success of his party.
The marriage of Mr. Kersting took place June 3, 1879, to Miss Anna Gicringer, who was born in White Oak, Hamilton county, Ohio, October 30, 1860, a daughter of Anthony and Thirsa (Blasi) Gieringer. To this union have been eight children, in the following order: Joseph. Felix, June 3, 1880; Julia Elizabeth, November 24, 1882; Stella Marguerite, September 20, 1885; Edwin John, November 25, 1887; Frances Magdalene, June 5, 1889, Albert Waldemar Valentine, February 8, 1891;
Alphonso Adam, June 5, 1893, and Carl Anthony, born August 16, 1895. The family are all communicants of Saint John's Catholic church at Glandorf. and the parents enjoy the esteem of the whole population of the city and township.
As printed in A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOSEPH KERSTING.
In the year 1874, there arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, a young German lad by the name of Joseph Kersting. He was only eighteen years of age at the time, and had just enough money to make the long trip from his nativeland, Germany, to this country. Today this same penniless youth of forty years ago, is one of the well-known men of Ottavia, Putnam county, Ohio, He has been a resident of this county since 1886, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits in- Glandorf until he took the office of county auditor in the fall of 1905. Since that year he has resided in the county, and since coming out of the office of county auditor, he has been engaged in the fire insurance business. He was the founder of the Glandorf Building and Loan Association, and served as its secretary for many years, and in every way
876 he has shown his pubhc spirit and desire to do everything possible for the general welfare of his community. He has been very helpful in the cause of education, and has always maintained a decided stand in favor of the public schools. As a business man, his integrity is beyond question and his genial manners and ever-ready willingness to do something for others, has won for him many friends throughout Putnam county.
Joseph Kersting, the present district assessor of Putnam county, Ohio was born on April 14, 1856, in Westphalia, Prussia. He is a son of Anthony and Katherine (Dorren) Kersting, both of whom spent all of their days in their native land.
Joseph Kersting came to America when he was eighteen years of age his two brothers, Anthony and Felix, having preceded him to this country and located m Cincinnati. He joined his two brothers in that city and at once became a clerk in a mercantile establishment in Cincinnati. One of his brothers, Anthony, entered the priesthood, and belongs to the Franciscan Fathers, and is now known as Father David. Felix, his other brother became a merchant tailor and spent most of his life in this country at Miamisburg, Ohio, where he died.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Joseph Kersting was married on June 3, 1879, to Anna Gieringer, who was born near Cincinnati, on a farm and was a daughter of Anthony and Thirsa (Blase) Gieringer. Her parents came from Wurttemberg, Germany, and located on a farm near Cincinnati, where they spent the remainder of their days. To this union have been born eight children, all of whom are living.
Joseph Kersting and his family are all loyal members of the Catholicchurch. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Findlay, Ohio. Mr. Kersting and his wife are justly proud of their eight children, all of whom have been given excellent education and are now honored members of the various communities where they are living. Such, in brief, is the life history of the poor German youth, who came to the United States in 1874 to seek his fortune.
As printed in History of Putnam County, Ohio : its people, industries, and institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Ignatius H. Kahle
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.