John Ludwig Beutner
John Ludwig Beutner, a leading agriculturist of Marion township, who carries on general farming and stock-raising on his valuable farm of 110 acres in section 23, was born at Delphos, Allen County, Ohio, February 26, 1860, and is a son of Frederick and Johanna (Frombach) Beutner.
Frederick Beutner was born near Sonneberg, in Saxe-Meiningen, Germany, February 25, 1819, and spent the usual time at school required of German children. He learned to be a shoemaker and, after deciding to seek his fortune in America, took passage in 1851 in a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of three months, landed him in the city of New York, with 50 cents in his pocket. Fortunately for him, the individual to whom he entrusted his money, as pay for securing him employment as a shoemaker, was honest and he worked for a time in New York and then went to Buffalo, where he continued to work at shoemaking for a year. About 1853, after is marriage, Mr. Beutner and wife came to Delphos, Ohio, by way of the Lakes and the Miami and Erie Canal, and opened a shop opposite the parochial house, after removing to Main street. He also bought land. A few years ago he bought his present farm of 120 acres in section 22, Marion township, which he still owns. He lives with his two sons, dividing is time between their homes. Having a good knowledge of land values, he has accumulated considerable property and now enjoys a comfortable competency. At Buffalo he married Johanna Frombach, who was born in Germany, September 4, 1827, came to America in young womanhood and died December 15, 1904. They have four sons, namely: Frederick and Carl, who died in infancy; and John Ludwig and Frederick Philip.
Prior to coming to the United States, Frederick Beutner traveled to many points of interest in his own and other European countries, crossing the Alps and working at his trade through Switzerland and Italy. Although now bearing the weight of 87 years, he still enjoys walking and frequently passes other pedestrians on the road when walking to Delphos, a distance of four miles. He frequently walks as much as 15 miles a day, and in summer often goes a foot to his farm in Van Wert County, west of Delphos. He is a well-known citizen and enjoys a very large measure of public esteem. he was reared a Lutheran but is a man of liberal mind, ready to see good in every religious organization. In his political views he is a Republican. He helped to develop the town of Delphos, always supporting the measures which, in his judgment, were for the welfare of the place.
John L. Beutner attended public school at Delphos and learned the shoemaker's trade with his excellent father. He is entitled to the name of self-made man, for from the age of 14 years he has depended for a livelihood entirely upon his own exertions. When he was still a boy at school he always found some profitable way in which to spend his holidays and vacations. He remembers when he was willing to work in the elevators for 20 cents a day and board himself rather than to be without work. He continued to work at shoemaking until failing health warned him to give it up and his physician recommended the open air and farm work. Hence, in 1883 he came to his present farm, on which at that time there were only a log-hut and log stable. Now all of his 110 acres, with the exception of 15, are under cultivation and he has spent a large amount of money in making improvements. The comfortable residence and substantial farm buildings give a pleasant air of thrift and prosperity, and all the surroundings give evidence of the owner's care and attention. Mr. Beutner has made a specialty of raising driving and draft horses. He feeds a great deal of stock on the farm, deeming this a more profitable plan than to hual his grain and hay away. Mr. Beutner has put down two drains of 16-inch tile on the farm, draining each side separately.
In 1898 Mr. Beutner, who is serving his third term, was elected by the Democratic party a justice of the peace, and is probably one of the most popular officials in his home, and gives a great deal of his time to performing his important duties. During all the time of his incumbency he has never had a decision reversed and some of his cases have gone to the Supreme Court. He is a friend of arbitration and his efforts at settling disputes, without invoking the machinery of the law beyond his own office, have been remarkably successful.
Mr. Beutner was married first, on March 1, 1882, to Rose Poe, of Attica, Indiana, who died March, 1900, leaving four children, viz: Poe, Lilian, Frederick and Harold. His second marriage was to Katie Huijsman, of Putnam County, on November 25, 1900, and they have two bright little daughters, Marcella and Cornelia.