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.
E. LEWIS KATTMAN, former mayor of New Knoxville, formerly and for years a justice of the peace in and for Washington township, former town clerk of New Knoxville and a veteran lumberman of that place, now living retired there, was born at New Knoxville and has lived there all his life, one of the strong and influential figures in the development of that place for the past fifty years and more, the beginning of this personal influence dating back to the days when as a young man he was engaged thereabout teaching school. Mr. Kattman was born on October 21, 1852, and is a son of William and Sophia (Niemeyer) Kattman, who were among the early residents of the village of New Knoxville. William Kattman was a native of Germany, as was his wife. He grew to manhood in his native land, learning there the blacksmith trade. When he had passed his majority he came to the United States and proceeded on out into Ohio, locating at New Knoxville, where he set up a blacksmith shop, thus becoming the first blacksmith in the village —and for years the only one. Upon coming here he also entered a tract of eighty acres of land in section 29 of Washington township, this land lying adjacent to the New Knoxville town plat, and that place established his home and carried on his business, pioneer blacksmith and farrier of that part of the county. William Kattman's entry of Government land was made in 1845, three years before the erection of Auglaize county, and he thus properly must be regarded as having been one of the "fathers" of the county. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, and the descendants of these in the present generation form a not inconsiderable connection. Of these eleven children, three are still living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Louise and Sophia. Reared at New Knoxville, E. Lewis Kattman received his early schooling there and supplemented this by attendance on the high school at Wapakoneta, after which he became engaged in teaching school, a vocation he followed thereafter during the winters for fifteen years, teaching in the schools of Washington and German townships, this county, and in the neighboring county of Shelby. In the meantime he had been giving his attention to the lumber industry, which in the days of the "big timber" hereabout was the leading industry in this section of Ohio, and thus became thoroughly familiar with the details of lumber milling and shipping. He presently became engaged in the lumber milling business on his own account, a member of the firm of Luterbein, Koch & Kattman, millers and shippers of lumber, at New Knoxville. After a while Mr. Koch sold his interest in the concern, which thereafter was operated under the name of Luterbein & Kattman until Mr. Luterbein sold his interest to Fred Kettler, and the firm name again was changed, becoming the Kattman & Kettler Lumber Company, better known as the K. K. Lumber Company, which continued doing business under this firm style until March 28, 1922, when Mr. Kattman sold his interest in the concern and retired from business. Mr. Kattman thus must be regarded as one of the real veterans of the lumber industry in this section. He grew with the business, in the days when it was the practice to buy up timber tracts, move a mill onto a convenient location thereon and saw up the good timber for shipping, but the central yards and offices always were maintained at New Knoxville, where he ever has had his headquarters, one of the leading men of affairs of that thriving village. In addition to his activities in an industrial way, Mr. Kattman has also for many years been one of the leaders in civic affairs in that part of the county. He is a Republican and has rendered conspicuous public service in his community, having served several terms as mayor of New Knoxville, for some time as town clerk, and for six years (1894-1900) as justice of the peace in and Washington township, and in other ways has discharged faithfully his obligations to the community of which he has been a part all his life. He and his wife, who was born in Germany, Charlotte Peters, daughter of Ernest and Sophia Marie Peters, are members of the German Reformed church at New Knoxville and have ever been active in the affairs of that congregation, Mr. Kattman, among other services to the church, having been choir leader of the church for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Kattman have a pleasant home at New Knoxville and have ever taken an interested and helpful part in the general social activities of the community.