Jacob Denzer
JACOB DENZER, farmer, P. O. Bucyrus, was born May 13, 1831, in Baden, Germany, and is a son of Andrew and Hester A. (Finfgelt) Denzer. In the full of 1833, when he was 13 years old, the family came to America, and to Bucyrus, Crawford Co., via Sandusky City, where they remained a week awaiting a conveyance to their destination. They bought 15 acres of timber land in Liberty Township; and young Denzer took his first lesson in woodchopping that winter, preparing for a house in the spring. He went but little to English school. In the spring of 1834, he began working by the month, at from $3 to $4 per month, continuing until 25 years old, and giving his wages to his father's family until he was 21. When at 20, he began farming on rented land, and kept at it for three years. He was married, March 13, 1850, to Miss Matilda McNeal, of this township, who was born Dec. 6, 1826, in Huntingdon, Penn. They have eleven children living: Mary L., wife of Stephen Bremen, of Whetstone Township; Jennie, at home; Andrew, farmer, of this township; Esther, a successful teacher in this township; Simon J., Anson J., Ella, Alexander, Maggie, Lewis J., and Electa V. Two died when young: Florence and an infant son. After marriage, he rented the Bechtel farm for six years and, in the meantime, purchased 38 acres in this vicinity, making additions to it at different times. In 1863. he purchased his present farm, where he owns over 400 acres, all made by his own energy and industry. He ran a saw-mill for ten years, working his farm during the day, and in the busy season, often running the mill during the entire night and would sometimes fall asleep standing up. He is now engaged in farming and stock-raising quite extensively, and has made many improvements in his farm and buildings. He has always been a Democrat, casting his first vote for Van Buren. His father was born in Baden and was well educated. He was a soldier under the first Napoleon, and was with him in his ill-fated expedition to Moscow, where hundreds and thousands of his comrades perished. He was a farmer in the old country. He married Hester A. Finfgelt. Four sons and one daughter were born to them. The family came here in 1833. Andrew, George, Jacob, Mary and Simon were the names of his children. Two are buried in Opfingen, Baden. The father died about 1840 and the mother in October 1876, at the age of 94 years.
From History of Crawford County and Ohio, Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1881