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E Devout Pioneers Crossed Sea [ To Build New World Ottoville# | Monterey-tp Village In Putnam-co Basks In Sunlight j Of Religious Life And Peaceful Pursuits Estab-dj lished By Early SettlerstCY-nm.ucd from Fai;e One)1 parish sodalities were rummirallv _ . . _ . 1 t-stabli idled, the A«ot.ation oftown oi Father firdeick in Ger- i Holy Children was formed, and a. many to the community now known council of the Knights of Culusn-jas Ottoville. Even at that time bus was organized-I there „as httle here that coiiM he, H CIOTn;ni. „ork resulted in called a town—not much more tnan, , , . .the movement which consolidated,a general store and a few farra , ^ up,IS ,he Q._homes. Thssiman is FerdinandIK [oville Khoo, djstnrt which now, mcke, now hi years of age. When are housed in a „(.w aad raodernjschool building here. The Rev. Fr.}he was 24 he landed in America with a lettei of introduction to Gerhard H. Otte, this village's second storekeeper, who had opened his mercantile establishment m 1360. W. H. Beckman was the first storekeeper in the village.Vincke proceeded to Ottoville with his letter and was given a j job, working in the store and on i the farm of Otte. Four years later | Vincke bought a half interest in the store and a year later, in j 3S80, Otte sold his half and Vincke took over the business to run it until his retirement from active business life in 1916.Vincke was proprietor of the Ottoville general store for 41 years. Today he occupies himself between a devotion to his church and to working around his home here and in the garden.In the back yard of the Vincke residence there stands today what probably was the first public building erected in the village. It is the two-story frame structure that served as the community's first church. It was built in 1850 thru the generosity of Father Bredeick. In 1863 the structure, 36 feet by 20 feet, was sold for $225. After passing thru various hands, according to Mayor L. W. Heckman, it came into the possession of Vincke and stands today as a mnte reminder of an accomplishment of the community’s pioneer church workers.Today Ottoville has one of the finest churches in the Northwestern Ohio district—the church ofthe Immaculate Conception which is inseparably linked with the growth of the tillage and Monte-rey-tp.At the death of Father Bredeick in 1858, construction of the second Ottoville church was started by Father Westerholt When the latter was transferred to Cleveland, the work was completed by Father Goebbels and a parsonage was erected. This move resulted in Ottoville church being changed from a mission to a parish. The Rev. A. J. Abel was the first resident pastor. There were several changes in pastors until 1868 when the Rev. Michael Mueller assumed the pastorate and held it until his death in 1900.So great was the parish growth under Father Mueller that a new church was built in 1885 at a cost of nearly $60,000. The building, of pure Gothic design, is considered a masterpiece—and is said to be one of the two finest examples of Gothic architecture in the United States.The lofty double spires rear their heads in the midst of the Ottoville community today as a reverent reminder of the memory of Father Mueller. The Rev. J. B. Mertes became pastor in 1900 and served the parish for 20 years. The present parsonage was completed in 1903 at a cost of $10,000 and it was in this year that Father Mertes engaged the Sisters of the Precious Blood to teach in the Ottoville grade schools. During his pastorate a sisters’ residence was built, a new pipe organ was installed, a community hall constructed, clocks installed in the steeples and many other improvements were made. Father Mertes resigned in 1920 because of illness and the Rev. J. S. Amoldi, the present pastor, succeeded him.Since his coming the variousAmoldi is assisted in the pastorate duties by the Rev. Ralph Mueller, and the parish consists of approximately 500 families.Ottoville is proud of its schools. F. J. Uhrig has been superintendent since 1909, and L. W. Heckman has been principal of the high school since 1911. Frederick Kaiser and Miss Helen Coyle are the other high school teachers, and the grade pupils are taught by the parish Sisters. More than 500 pupils are enrolled in the village 1 schools which are under supervision of the Monterey-tp public school board comprised of George Rieger, Joseph Hoersten, Walter Wannemacher, Anton Koester and William Dickman. Felix Hoersten is clerk of the board.In addition to being principal of the high school, Heckman is the village mayor. Other village officers are, Gerald Kromer, treasurer; J. L. Wannemacher, clerk, and Henry Perrin, marshal. Coun-cilmen are Louis F. Weber, Frank King, J. P. Wurst, Joseph Sehwert-ner, Adolph Miller and George Rieger.Among the business and professional establishments in town are Miller Bros, clay works, Odenwel-ler Milling Co., Ottoville Produce Co., Clement C. Metz, manager; Hixon-Peterson Lumber Co., August Eickholt, manager; J. J. Miller, general store; L. F. Weber, general store; Nick Bedink, cobbler; George Vincke, cobbler; W. T. Remlinger, drugstore; George Rieger, tinner; George Smith, cream station; Miss Aivira Otte, cream station; Klima Bros., saddlery; King and Sons, groceries and meats; Gilbert Bentler, hardware; George Wannemacher, farm implements.Restaurants are operated by G. H. Otte, Frank Miller, Ralph Siler, Millje Neidecken, John Thines, and H. J. Thidof. The town has three garages run by Sanders and company, John Pittner, and Hoehn and Allmeier.Alex Miller is president of the Ottoville Bank Co., and Rudolph Maag is cashier. Ralph Kramer is the town’s barber and undertaker. C. B, Wannemacher has a jewelry store, and a photo studio is conducted by H. J. Niedecken. Dr. O, J. Fatum is the village physician.Among older residents of the town are Oliver Sellet, 87; Frank Thessing, 83; Henry Kemper, 80; Mrs. Margaret Perrin, 80; Frank Brokamp, 80; Mrs. Catherine Hazelman, /9; Ferdinand F. Vincke, 84, and Andrew Keheres, 81.Mr, and Mrs. John A. Sanders, living three miles west of town, will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary Oct. 29. He is 88, and she is 86. Mrs, Mary Eberle, who resides a mile and a half northwest of the village, is 88 years of age.Three state highways meet in Ottoville—224, 66 and 329—making the town an active rural trading community with live-wire mer-5?®-IS. \, %fi ' . „ - *Carolyn Is Fas hin
Newspaper Details
The Lima News
Lima, Ohio, US
Wed, Oct 16, 1935
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Alvin T.
NA, NA 28 Sep 2024
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