Charles Gerdes

Charles F. Gerdes born February 13, 1895, in Damascus Township is a retired farmer now in his 80th year and resides in the house built by his grandfather Eilert Gerdes in 1884.

Charles F. Gerdes

He has been a school teacher, tax assessor for Damascus Township, and a member of the McClure Christian Union Church of which he is a former trustee.

His grandparents Eilert and Marie Gerdes with their three sons came to America from Oldenberg, Germany, in 1870 settling in Damascus Township.

The eldest son, John, a telegraph operator, moved to Wisconsin. The youngest son, Frederick, owned a department store in Toledo. George Gerdes, the father of Charles, became a successful farmer in Damascus Township.

George and Catherine (Johnston) Gerdes were the parents of two children, Charles and Peter.

Peter, the younger son, married Dena Good. She died in 1950 and Peter in 1952 leaving three children.

Their daughter, Thelma, married Charles Slamra and now resides in Middletown, Ohio. They are the parents of eight children.

Their oldest son, Harold, a staff sergeant, was killed by enemy fire during World War H in Stuttgart, Germany. He was married to Wilma Altwies and had a daughter Jean who married Robert Armitage and lives near Waterville, Ohio. They have two children, Brian and Dawn. Both are students in the Waterville Elementary School.

The youngest son, Kenneth, married Esther Wade and resides in Delta, Ohio. They are the parents of three children. Patricia is married to Jimmie Ford and resides in Toledo and has a daughter Melissa. Their son, Donald, married Judith Yevtick and resides in Delta, Ohio. They have two children, Christopher Jon and Danielle. He is a law student at Toledo University. The younger daughter still is at home and is a student at Toledo University.

Submitted by: Charles Gerdes