In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1842
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903)
W. H. ADELSPERGER.
It gives the publishers of this volume pleasure to do honor to the old soldier element of the county. In the past it has been the custom to give recognition only to those who were high in office and took a promijient part in the great stmggle for the maintenance of the constitution. We believe, however, that no man who unselfishly gave his services to his country during the dark days of the Civil war should be slighted in written history if it is possible to give him mention. We are therefore glad to present to our readers the name of one of this honored clement. Mr. Adelsperger is at the present time a prominent agriculturist residing in Big Lick township, where he owns and operates a large tract of four hundred and forty acres of land. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, and is looked upon as one of the best farmers in the county. This gentleman was born in Seneca county in Jime of 1842. His father was John Adelsperger, and his mother Lucinda Ricketts. The father was a native of Maryland, while the mother was born in Seneca county. Their marriage occurred in Seneca county in 1818. Our subject's grandfather, Jacob by name, is noted as having been a member of that gallant army which repelled British invasion in the war of 1812, and whose martial blood is still flowing through the veins of his loyal gndson. John Adelsperger was a prosperous farmer while a residait of Seneca county, and passed there a life of usefulness. He died in the year 1878. Mrs. Adelsperger died in early womanhood, the year being 1846. They reared but three children, John F., Joseph A. and W. H. There was a second marriage, however, which resulted in the birth of twdve children. Eleven of this last number, &nd one of the first family, are still living. It is remarked that John F., the eldest member of the first family, was also a gallant soldier in the Civil war, a private in Company D, Sixty-fourth Rment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Spring Hill, Tennessee, he unfortunately was taken prisoner and being sent to that horror of horrors, Andersonville Prison, was starved there, the date of his death not being known.
W. H. Addsperger received his early training and education in Seneca county. While still in his "teens" he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, and was engaged at that occupation when the rumblings of the Civil war burst forth in a tempest. He was one of the first to go to the front, enlisting in September, 1861, as a private of Company F, Forty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In this organization, which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland, he participated in all the battles which that organization fought. At the bloody battle of Stone River he with others became detached from the main command, and before they could rejoin it the entire body was taken prisoners. He, however, did not remain long in the enemy's lines, having been paroled and afterwards exchanged. At the end of three years he received an honorable discharge, but being of that number who did not know when he had enough he immediately re-enlisted, this time becoming a member of Company D, Sixty-fourth Rent, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In this organization he engaged in a number of the bloody battles of the last year of the war, being present at Franklin, Nashville and numerous other smaller encounters. In 1865 he was a second time honored with discharge, and returned to civil life with the consciousness of duty well and bravely done. All honor to the boys in blue, who saved the south from rending the constitution. On his return to civil life Mr. Adelsperger turned his attention to the carpenter's trade and continued to work at this until 1873. In the year 1871 he those for a life companion Miss Sophia, daughter of John and Margaret Kenner. Four children were born to the marriage, Minda A., deceased; John F., deceased; Joseph and Milton L. The mother of these children is a native of Germany, where she was born in 185 1. Mr. Adelsperger first began his active farming operations in the year of his marriage, when he purchased in Big Lick township one hundred and twenty-eight acres, to which he added at different times until he is now in possession of one of the largest farms in Hancock county. Mr, Adelsperger is a man of high repute in his immediate section of the county, and he and his wife are honored for their many good qualities and excellencies of heart and mind.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM H. ADELSPERGER, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising on Elm Wood farm, is the owner of 390 acres of fine farming land, located in Sections 10 and 13, Big Lick Township, Hancock County, Ohio, and is one of the representative agriculturists of the county. He was born June 22, 1842, in Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Cinderella (Ricketts) Adelsperger, and a grandson of Jacob Adelsperger, who was a native of Hagerstown, Md.
John Adelsperger, father of our subject, was born in Hagerstown, Md., and during his boyhood came to Tiffin, Seneca County, O. He was first married to Cinderella Ricketts, and to them were born three children: William H.; John F., deceased; and Joseph A., deceased. His second union was with Mary Albert, and resulted in the following issue: Mary Jane;
Katherine; Amanda; Flora; Nora; Charles; James; Albert; Frank; John, deceased; and Henry.
William H. Adelsperger was reared in Tiffin, Ohio, and there obtained his education in the public schools. In 1861 he enlisted for three years in the 49th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was with the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. He later enlisted with the bath Ohio Vol. Inf., for one year, and participated in many of the important battles of the war, his last two fights being the battles at Franklin and Nashville. He was not sick a day during his entire four years’ service. He was taken prisoner at Stone River, and honorably discharged at St. Louis in 1865. After the close of the war he worked at carpentering for six years and in 1871 bought his present farm in Section 10, Big Lick Township, Hancock County, Ohio. He has just completed building a large brick residence on Elm Wood farm, and has one of the finest and best improved farms in the township.
In 1871 Mr. Adelsperger was married to Sophia Kenner, who was born December 25, 1850, in Germany, and at the age of two years came to this country with her parents. Of their union have been born the following children: John, who died aged six years; Minda, who died aged eighteen years; Milton L., who operates Elm Wood Farm, is married and has one child, Clarence; and Joseph A., who farms his father’s place in Section 10, Big Lick Township. Mr. Adelsperger is a member of the G. A. R., Morris Post of Fostoria, is politically a Republican, and is now serving as land appraiser, having been elected to that office one year ago.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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