William Gerlach
Making a farm wagon within the incredible short space of a day's time was no impossible task for William Gerlach, veteran Bellville wagon-maker, back in the "good old days" when his wagon and buggy shop was operating at full capacity. Mr. Gerlach, who reached his 86th. birthday anniversary last Thursday, and who participated in a big family celebration of the event at his home on Sunday, operated a vehicle works in Bellville for more than twenty years, shipping his products as far west as Kansas and over several eastern states. A resident of Bellville for the past 64 years, Mr. Gerlach recalls when the small village had a foundry, a basket weaving establishment, two furniture manufacturing plants, a planing mill, a grist mill and several other thriving industries. At Mr. Gerlach's wagon and buggy shop, which at one time employed ten men, all the parts that went into a wagon or buggy were made in either the blacksmith or wood-work departments. The establishment also included a paint and trim shop. As a side-line, along with his vehicle business, Mr. Gerlach was also engaged as a fur dealer for many years, later including wool in his transactions. The son of German immigrants to America, William Gerlach was born in Mansfield on July 21, 1852. at twenty-two he came to Bellville where he was employed as a woodworker for a year or two, after which he went into the wagon making business. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Miss Katherine Bauman, of Iberia (OH). They celebrated their 62nd. wedding anniversary last April. Mr. & Mrs. Gerlach are the parents of three children, A.W. Gerlach, of Akron, Mrs. Lew Switzer, of near Bellville, and Mrs. Nora Young, who resides with her parents. There are no grandchildren. "Bellville was the greatest 'Saturday night' town in the country" when he first came to the village, says Mr. Gerlach. And a staunch Democrat, Mr. Gerlach recalls when Jefferson township was regularly carried by the Republicans by over 100 majority. He helped to change that. Bellville now one of the most prosperous small-town farm trading centers in the state, undoubtedly owes much of its development to the Gerlach-made wagons which hauled farm products to the village markets and carried Bellville merchandise back to the farms of the surrounding countryside. And speaking of the "horse and buggy days", Mr. Gerlach knows all about them. He made most of the buggies that traversed Bellville street and nearby roads. Among those who participated in the birthday celebration Sunday were Mrs. Gerlach, Mr. & Mrs. A.W. Gerlach, of Akron, Mr. & Mrs. Lew Switzer and Mrs. Nora Young, of Bellville, and his sister, Miss Gertrude Gerlach, aged 79, of Mansfield. A brother, Henry Gerlach, aged 84, of Mansfield, was unable to attend the affair.
From Tri-Forks Press: July 28, 1938, Vol. II, No. 40