Introduction to the 1923 Biographical Sketches
This biographical sketch was published along with many others in the 1923 History of Auglaize County, Volume II, edited by William J. McMurray and published by the Historical Publishing Company of Indianapolis. In most cases the subject of the biography was of the first generation born in this country to German immigrants. In some cases the subject may have been born in Germany and came to this country at a young age. In most cases the story tells of the immigrant parents of the subject and also the children and grandchildren of the subject named at the beginning of the story. In some cases comments have been added after the biography to explain the locations of the farms where the immigrants settled. New Knoxville did not have rural addresses until 1955, and therefore the settlers had rural route addresses of St. Marys, Botkins, etc.
OLIVER W. HOERATH, former mayor of the village of New Knoxville, former clerk of the village, former president of the local board of education there, chairman of the board of directors of the Home Benefits Association at that place, formerly and for years a teacher in the schools of this county and present secretary and treasurer of the Detjen Grain Company of New Knoxville and Moulton, was born at New Knoxville and has resided there practically all his life. Mr. Hoerath was born on October 23, 1881, and is a son of John and Fredericka (Schneider) Hoerath, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families here, the former born at St. Marys and the latter in German township. John Hoerath grew to manhood at St. Marys, where he received his schooling, and as a young man went to Cincinnati, where he learned the trade of harness making. Upon finishing his trade he returned to this county and opened a harness shop at New Knoxville, where he continued in business for about forty years. He was twice married and by his first wife (Fredericka Schneider) was the father of two sons, the subject of this sketch and Arthur J. Hoerath. Upon the death of the mother of these sons, Mr. Hoerath married Fredericka Schroer, a member of one of the old families of Washington township, and to this union two sons were born, Julius and Walter Hoerath. Reared at New Knoxville, where he was born, Oliver W. Hoerath received his early schooling in the schools of that village and then entered the St. Marys high school. Upon finishing the high school course he secured a license to teach school, and in the following winter taught a district school in St. Marys township. In the next year he began teaching in the schools of Washington township, and was thus engaged during the winters for six years, at the end of which time he was appointed to the schools of New Knoxville, and for seven years was a teacher in the village schools, at the same time and meanwhile becoming active in the general affairs of that village. In 1912 Mr. Hoerath left the school room to give his attention to the affairs of the Detjen Grain Company of New Knoxville and Moulton, of which concern he was elected secretary and treasurer, and has since devoted his chief attention to the operations of that company, which not only maintains grain elevators at New Knoxville and Moulton, with its rail outlet at the latter place, but also is extensively engaged in the sale of coal, lumber and builders' supplies and farm implements, with sales establishments in both villages. Mr. Hoerath has long been looked upon as one of the "live wires" in the business life of his home town. He was one of the organizers of the Home Benefits Association of that place and is the present chairman of the board of directors of the same. He is a Democrat and has long taken an active interest in local civic affairs, having at various times rendered public service as mayor of New Knoxville (two terms), two terms as clerk of the village, and four years as president of the local board of education. Oliver W. Hoerath married Ida Headapohl, daughter of Catherine Headapohl, and also a member of one of the old families in this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Kathryn. Mr. and Mrs. Hoerath are members of the First Reformed church of New Knoxville, of which congregation Mr. Hoerath is one of the deacons, and of which he also for the past five years and more has been serving as clerk, or secretary of the church. The Hoeraths have a pleasant home at New Knoxville and have ever taken an interested and helpful part in the general social activities of that community.