William Kettring
William Kettring, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Atwater Township, this county, in 1842; son of Jacob and Rachel (Petrie) Kettring, natives of Baden, Germany, the former born in November, 1815, the latter in 1822, the respective families immigrating to America in 1831. They were the parents of six sons: William W., George, Joshua, Jacob, Caleb and Eli. Jacob Kettring, Sr., cleared forty acres of land in Atwater Township, this county, where he engaged in farming till his death. His widow, who survives him, is a resident of Atwater, this county. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he joined the Union Army, enlisting in Company C, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving till the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Stone River, siege of Knoxville, the Georgia and Atlanta campaigns, Franklin, Ft. Fisher and Nashville under Thomas, and received an honorable discharge as Corporal in July, 1865. Returning to peaceful pursuits he was married, in 1867, to Miss Lucy A., daughter of Thomas Gilson, of Atwater Township, this county. Six children were born to this union, all now living: Henry, Clara, Charles, Maggie, Edith and Mary. Mr. Kettring is a member of the I. O. O. F.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885