Frank Puthoff

FRANK PUTHOFF, one of the most prominent farmers in Jefferson township, Mercer county, Ohio, is a native of the county in which he lives. He was born February 26, 1844, was reared to farm pursuits, and received a good German education. He is a son of Henry and Mary (Lang) Puthoff, both of whom are natives of Altenburg, capital of the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, a city noted no less for its educational institutions than for its old castle, which stands on a perpendicular rock of porphyry.


Henry Puthoff came to the United States when he was twenty-two years of age, a single man. By occupation he was a farmer, and upon arriving in the United States, he came direct to Mercer county, and worked on banking the reservoir at Celina. Afterward he worked on the construction of the canal. This kind of work he found it necessary to do in order to make a living, notwithstanding he had purchased a tract of land. As soon as practicable he cleared up his land, erected the necessary buildings, improved his farm, and it was on this land that he finally settled down and lived the remainder of his life. By his own exertions he acquired a comfortable property, and became one of the prominent farmers in the county.


Henry Puthoff was married twice, first, to a widow, who had married in Germany, came to this country with her husband, and here that husband died. She then married Mr. Puthoff. To this marriage there were born five children, viz: Henry, who died when a young man, the father of one child; Frank, the subject of this sketch; George, a carpenter living in Mercer county; Richard, a farmer; and Mary, who married Joseph Ankabauer, and she dying, left four children. The mother of these children died about 1858, a devoted and devout member of the Catholic church; and about 1860, Mr. Puthoff married Miss Dena Caulkhoff, of Germany. By this marriage he had four children, viz: Caroline, who married John Badki, a farmer; Lizzie, who married Frank Stegemann and died without issue; Annie and John, both living. The mother of these children is also yet living on the old homestead, but Mr. Puthoff died December 8, 1882. He was a democrat in his political views, but never aspired to office. She is a devoted member of the Catholic church, is a dutiful wife, and an exemplary woman in every way.


Frank Puthoff was reared a farmers boy, inured in his younger days to all kinds of farm labor, and has always been identified with the He remained with his parents until he married, which occurrence took place on October 4, 1864. For the next nine years he lived with his father-in-law, at first working on a small salary and afterward in partnership, the partnership terminating in 1872. He then has a commodious frame dwelling, a good barn, and and other out-buildings,and also a fine orchard which contains many excellent kinds of fruit trees. Taking it all in all it is as fine a farm as any one need wish to own. Mr. Puthoff has given his attention almost exclusively to general farming, though he raises stock of the best breeds, and is always grading up. His He now has ninety acres cleared, hogs are of the Poland China breed, and his, cattle of the famous Aberdeen stock, named after Aberdeenshire, in the east of Scotland, the inhabitants of which are "unsurpassed in breeding and breeding stock."


The lady he married was named Catherine Brandywine, She was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, December 8, 1844, and is a daughter of Hermann Henry Brandywine, of Germany, who came to the United States a single man, and for two years remained in Cincinnati. He then removed to Auglaize county, where he remained during life, dying in January, 1877. When he came to America he left a "sweetheart" in the old country, who, after he left her, married another man. With her husband she came to the United States, also, and here her husband died. She then married Mr. Brandywine, and by him had ten children, two of whom died young, and the others, so far as they can now be recalled, being as follows: Lizzie, who married Benjamin Knoptka, a farmer of prominence; Mary, who married Henry Strecker, a farmer; Dena, who married Anthony Westman, a farmer; Catherine, who married the subject of this sketch; Josephine, who died at the Sisters' hospital in Cincinnati, and Benjamin, who is a farmer. They are all members of the Catholic church.


Frank Puthoff and his wife are the parents of ten children, viz: john, who is a farmer; Lizzie, wife of Michael Reusch; Catherine, wife of George Inichen, who is a prominent farmer and breeder of the famous Victoria hogs, and also of Aberdeen cattle; Benjamin, who is managing a farm for another man; Mary, single; Henry, who has a decided taste for learning, and is now attending school; Jacob, Anton, Joseph and Caroline, the last four at home. Mr. Puthoff is a democrat in politics, but he has no desire to serve his country otherwise than as a private citizen. He and his wife, and all ten of his children, are members of the Catholic church. All are good citizens, and a credit to the country and county in which they live.


Pages 474-476

Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Mercer and Van Wert Counties Ohio, Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Company, 1896

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