Michael Lutz

As printed in 1902

MICHAEL LUTZ.

The German element in our national commonwealth is one of much importance. No country has furnished so many valuable citizens to the United States as the fatherland. They are men of diligence, determined and self-reliant, and of this class Mr, Lutz is a representative. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February 7, 1821, and spent his early youth upon a farm. In 1833 he came with his stepfather, George Schemly, and the family to America, the voyage being made in a sailing vessel which reached the American harbor in ninety-five days after leaving the German port.

In the spring of 1834 Mr. Lutz came to Crawford county, taking up his above in Chatfield township. The next year he went to Pennsylvania and began carrying water for the men working on the canal. In the fall he returned to this county and the next summer worked on the Miami canal. Subsequently he began working by the day, and when nineteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1 861, being actively identified with the building interests of the county throughout that period. He was a skillful mechanic and was thus enabled to secure employment easily. In the meantime, however, in 1849, *ie nae invested his earnings in one hundred and forty acres of land, which he cleared and improved, transforming the wild tract which came into his possession into a valuable farm. As the years have passed he extended the boundaries of his property and now has two hundred and ninety-two acres of valuable land, constituting a very fine and attractive farm, supplied with all modern accessories and improvements.

In 1848 Mr. Lutz was united in marriage to Miss Sabina Kalb, and unto them have been born eleven children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Lutz is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he has held the offices of trustee and deacon, having been identified with the society of that denomination in Chatfield since its organization. He has ever taken a deep interest in the growth and progress of the society and the extension of its influence. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat and has filled the position of trustee and school director, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Llis life has been crowned with success, and though he started out for himself empty-handed, he is now the owner of a valuable farm. For two-thirds of a century he has resided in the county and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its development and Upbuilding and has borne his part in its progress. His life, honorable and upright,. has commended him to the respect of his fellow men and no one is more: worthy of representation in this volume than Michael Lutz.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.