George C. Thielk

GEORGE C. THIELK, a well-known farmer and substantial landowner in the western part of Washington township, proprietor of a well-improved place on rural mail route No.1 out of St. Marys, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. Mr. Thielk was born on November 7, 1875, and is a son of John and Julia (Stroh) Thielk, the latter of whom was born in that same township, a member of one of the pioneer families of the New Knoxville neighborhood. The late John Thielk was born in Germany and was twelve years of age when he came to this country with his parents, the family for some time after their arrival here making their home at Dayton, Ohio. They came up here into Auglaize county and settled on a woodland farm along the creek in section 18 of Washington township, about a mile and a half north of New Knoxville, and it was on this pioneer farm that John Thielk grew to manhood. After his marriage he bought an adjoining tract of seventy-five acres, there along the creek, the place on which his son, George, is now living, and there spent the remainder of his life, a successful farmer. After clearing his original tract and getting it ready for cultivation he bought other land and at the time of his death was the owner of a fine farm of 200 acres. He and his wife were members of Zion's Lutheran church at St. Marys and he had served the congregation of that church as a trustee and as an elder. He also had rendered public service as a member of the school board. To him and his wife were born five children, all of whom are living save two, William and Mary, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Anna, and a brother, Edward Thielk. Reared on the home farm in Washington township, George C. Thielk received his schooling in the nearby district school (district No, 4) and from the days of his boyhood has been attentive to the affairs of the farm. He continued farming with his father until the latter's death and then he took over the home place of 120 acres and has since resided there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Since coming into possession of this place, Mr. Thielk has made numerous substantial improvements and has a well equipped farm plant. In addition to his general farming he has long given considerable attention to the raising of livestock, with particular reference to pure bred Duroc hogs and Shorthorn cattle, and is doing well. In his political views, Mr. Thielk is a Democrat. George Thielk married Sarah Kuck and to this union have been born four children, Ruth, Harold and Rachel and Paul, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thielk are members of Zion's Lutheran church at St. Marys and for thirteen years Mr. Thielk served the congregation of that church as a deacon. Mrs. Sarah Thielk also was born in Washington township and is a daughter of Gustav and Elizabeth (Storck) Kuck, who later became residents of Van Buren township in the neighboring county of Shelby, where they became well established on a farm. Gustav Kuck and his wife both were natives of Germany. They were married in Cincinnati and not long afterward came up into this part of the state, where they spent the remainder of their lives, both now deceased. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, Mrs. Thielk having a sister, Matilda, and two brothers, William and Henry Kuck.