John Jacob Gayer
John Jacob Gayer, one of Spenerville's leading citizens and representative business men, manager of the Spencerville Artificial Stone Company and interested in other successful concerns, was born in 1860, in Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a son of Gottlieb and Magdalena (Beck) Gayer.
The ancestors of Mr. Gayer may be traced as far back as the days when religious persecution banished many of the natives of France to other countries, his great-grandfather settling in Germany. Gottlieb Gayer, his father, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in October, 1816, and died in Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1899, aged 83 years. He was married at Wittenburg to Magdalena Beck, who died in 1902, aged 77 years. The five survivors of their family of eight children are: Frederika, who resides on the old homestead farm in Auglaize County; Katherine, wife of Gottlieb Eibling, of Marion, Ohio; Gottlieb, who owns the homestead farm; John Jacob; and Mary, who died December 9, 1905. The parents, with five children, emigrated to America in 1861, settling first in Marion County, Ohio, but locating permanently in Auglaize County in 1863, living on two separate farms which the father improved.
John Jacob Gayer was reared and educated in Auglaize County and remained at home until he was 30 years of age. After completing the common school course, he took a business training at Berea College, but continued to live on the homestead farm until 1891, when he located in Spencerville. He first engaged in a livery enterprise, but disposed of it later and entered into the meat business. Since 1896 he has been contracting for Eastern capitalists who are interested in oil drilling, he having been identified with every branch of the oil development business for years. Since coming to Spencerville he has invested in both city and country real estate, owning a fine farm on the edge of the town and one of the handsomest homes in the locality. It is constructed of stone, is beautifully situated and is equipped with every modern convenience. When the Spencerville Artificial Stone Company was organized, he was one of its founders, and in 1904 was president and manager. It is now incorporated, Dr. Jacob R. Welsh being president and Mr. Gayer manager, and its business prospects are most flattering.
Mr. Gayer married Phoebe Metzger, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Frederick Metzger, and they have had three children, the two survivors being: Irwin Benson, residing in Spencerville, who is a cement walk contractor; and Edith Marie, a student in the Spencerville High School.
Politically Mr. Gayer is a Republican and he has taken an active interest in public matters for years, frequently serving as a delegate to important party conventions. He is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter at Spencerville, and the Council at Delphos. He is also an Odd Fellow, having membership in both lodge and encampment.