Fred E. Settlage

FRED E. SETTLAGE, a former trustee of Washington township and a well-known octogenarian farmer and landowner of that township, proprietor of a well-improved farm on rural mail route No 1 out of St. Marys, where he is now living retired from the active labors of the farm, was born on a pioneer farm in the neighboring township of German, in the days when that township was still comprised within the confines of Mercer county, before Auglaize county was organized, and has lived hereabout all his life, he thus having been a witness to and a participant in the development of this county from the days of its beginning. Mr. Settlage was born on November 9, 1842, and is a son of Henry Arnold and Mary Elizabeth (Kuck) Settlage, natives of Germany, who were married in Cincinnati and who later came up into this part of Ohio and became pioneers of the region afterward erected into Auglaize county. Henry Arnold Settlage was a young man when he came to this country and located at Cincinnati, where he became employed at his trade as a blacksmith. About three years later he married there and then came up into this section of the state and settled on a farm west of New Bremen, where he became the owner of about 100 acres of land, and there he remained for about fifteen years, at the end of which time he sold that place and bought a tract of 156 acres in Washington township with the expectation of moving onto this latter place, but before his plans could be matured his death occurred, October 1, 1855. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom three grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch and his brothers, William and Henry C. Settlage. Reared on the home farm in German township, Fred E. Settlage received his early schooling in the primitive schools of that neighborhood, and was just under thirteen years of age when his father died. He remained with his mother for some years, aiding his brothers in the labors of maintaining the place, and then became employed as a carpenter, a vocation he followed for seven years, at the end of which time, in association with his mother, he bought a tract of fifty-three acres north of the creek, in the southwest quarter of section 7 of Washington township, the place on which he is now living, three miles north and west of New Knoxville, and there has resided ever since, coming into full possession after the death of his mother. Mr. Settlage is a good farmer and during the days of his activity on the farm added to his holdings until now he is the owner of an excellent farm of 126 acres, a part of which lies over the line in St. Marys township and which is now being operated by his son, Louis H. Settlage. Mr. Settlage always has given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and formerly was active in local politics, for eleven years having served as a trustee of Washington township, and also for some time as a school director and as road supervisor in his district. In his present political leanings he holds himself independent of party ties. He and his family are members of the Reformed church at New Knoxville, and he has served the congregation of that church as a deacon in years past. He also for about twenty-five years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Fred E. Settlage married Mary Wierwille, a daughter of William Wierwille, and also a member of one of the old families of Washington township, and to this union have been born five children, William A., Sophia E., Magdalena, Louis H. and Theodore, all of whom are married. William A, Settlage married Magdalena Fledderjohann and has had three children, Victor (deceased), Arnold and Phoebe. Sophia E. Settlage is the wife of Henry Buckloh. Magdalena Settlage married F. H. Hilgemann and has four children, Theophilus, Alvin, Lois and Grace. Louis H. Settlage, who is now operating the old home place, renting the same from his father, married Rosa Hiel and has had four children, Herman, Lydia, Noah and Rhinehart (deceased). Theodore Settlage married Selma Wiethoff and has three children, Emil, Richard and Benjamin. Mr. Settlage has seen this region develop from its pioneer condition and has many an interesting story to tell of the days long gone when conditions of living here were far more difficult than now. Though past eighty years of age, he continues to take a lively interest in affairs and is a genial host in his pleasant home.