John Matthias Gramling Family

John Matthias Gramling was born on January 25, 1889. He married Florence Oneta Jennings on November 30, 1911. Florence was born on May 13, 1888 to Alfred and Melissa Leist Jennings. After their marriage they moved in with John's parents in what was called 'the big house'. It was a fourteen room Victorian style home complete with towers and featured what was probably the first bathtub in Washington Township.

John farmed 339 acres of land and raised Holstein cows and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Both were active in church work at the Colton Church of God. Mr.

Gramling was a Sunday School superintendent, trustee and teacher. Florence was painist for the church. Later they became members of the Shiloh Christian Union Church after the Church of God church building burned. John served four years on the Washington Township board of education and was a member of the Farm Bureau from the time of it's beginning.

In 1948, the Gramlings moved into a smaller home across the road. Florence died July 27, 1962 and John died on February 27, 1964. They are buried at Heath Cemetery, Colton, Ohio. They had five children: Ruth Oneta, Glenn Alfred, Nina Mae, Harry Jennings, and Phyllis Eileen.

The first child, Ruth Oneta Gramling, was born on December 11, 1917. She married, first, Cecil Strock, and, second, Albert S. Bristol. Ruth is a University of Toledo graduate and taught in the Toledo School System. She now works for the World Book Encyclopedia Company. The reside in Toledo, Ohio.

The second child, Glenn Alfred Gramling, was born on May 29, 1919. He married Ruth Arlene Ziegler, daughter of Irvin and Minnie Miller Ziegler, who was born on July 30, 1921. They moved to a farm in Liberty Township where they still live. Glenn is a grain and livestock farmer. They are members of Liberty Chapel United Methodist Church. They have four daughters: Bonnie Jean, Linda Diane, LuAnn Faye, Joyce Elaine.

Bonnie, Jean Gramling was born on August 20, 1943 and married Larry Dunmire, son of Lawrence and Mary Wenner Dunmire, in May, 1865. Their children are Brent Allen, born June 8, 1966, and Diane Michelle, born July 29, 1969. Larry works at General Motors, Defiance, Ohio. Bonnie is studying real estate at Northwest Technical School. They live on Huddle Road, Napoleon, and are members of Christ United Methodist Church.

Linda Diane Gramling, born November 22, 1946, married Jerold D'Lamater, son of Wayne and Helene D'Lamater. They live at Hudson, Michigan and have two sons. John Wayne D'Lamater was born on February 26, 1969 and James Lee D'Lamater was born on December 20, 1969. Jerold works at Clark Equipment in Jackson, Michigan. Linda graduated as a Home Economics major at Bowling Green State University and teaches Home Economics at Hudson, Michigan. They are members of the United Methodist Church in Hudson.

LuAnn Faye Gramling was born on January 30, 1957 and is a social service major at the Community Technical College of the University of Toledo, and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Fraternity.

Joyce Elaine Gramling was born on October 11, 1959 and is a freshman at the Community Technical College of the University of Toledo, in retail marketing and plans to be a fashion buyer.

Nine Mae Gramling was born on February 27, 1921, the third child of John and Florence Gramling. She married Robert Eugene Travis of Delta, Ohio, on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1939. Robert was born on September 17, 1916 the son of Zebulon and Jayne Suydam Travis. They live near Delta, Ohio. They are members of Liberty Chapel United Methodist Church. They had seven children. The history of this family appears under the Travis family history in this book.

Harry Jennings Gramling was born December 13, 1923 and married Rowena Imogene Fraizer on March 9, 1947. Rowena, daughter of Hoy and Seville Phillips Fraizer, of Knox County, was born May 7, 1927. Harry and Rowena live in the old Gramling farmhouse. Harry is a grain farmer and raises hogs. They are the parents of four children, Bruce Thane, Vickie Sue, Todd Hoy, and Terrell Lane.

Bruce Thane Gramling was born September 2, 1948. He graduated from Liberty Center High School, attended Fort Wayne Bible College for two years, and served four years in the U.S. Air Force, and served two tours in Thailand. On June 22, 1974, he married Melody Lynn Stickley, daughter of Richard and Rosemary Vance Stick- ley. They have one daughter, Charla Lynn, born November 22, 1975. Bruce is a builder and built his home on Road W in Henry County.

Vicki Sue Gramling was born on October 6, 1949, graduated from Liberty High School, received her B.M.E. degree from Fort Wayne Bible College. She taught elementary and high school music for four years in the Gorham-Fayette School System and now works at the Tiffin Valley Bank in Archbold, Ohio.

Todd Hoy Gramling was born on July 25, 1953, graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1971 and married Laura Jean Camp on July 1, 1971. They have two children: Shane Hoy was born on March 17, 1972 and Micole Janelle was born on October 14, 1976. Todd is an industrial electrician.

Terrell Lane Gramling was born on August 21, 1957. He graduated from Liberty Center High School and worked and served with Teen Missions International, Merritt Island, Florida; Manaus, Brazil, and in Southern Ireland. Terrell is now employed by Sayders in Archbold, Ohio.

The youngest of the Gramling children, Phyllis Eileen, was born on January 15, 1929. She married Billy Lee Sharpe, son of Royal and Opal Heilman Sharpe, on June 22, 1947. Billy was born on May 26, 1926. They live on their farm in Liberty Township which Billy farms. He works at the Liberty Hardware in Liberty Center. Their four children are Susan Jill, Johnny Lee, William Perry, and Shelly Colleen.

Susan Jill was born on. November 20, 1947. She married William Tennyson Krugh, son of Reverend B.C. and -Mary Berdine Nuding Krugh, on June 20, 1969. Susan taught first grade for four years, gives piano lessons, and directs the choir at the Liberty Chapel United Methodist Church. Tennyson teaches biology in the Patrick Henry School System. They have two sons, Kerry Tennyson, born December 7, 1973, and Joseph Scott born May 23, 1975. They live in Liberty Center.

Johnny Lee was born February 27, 1949. John is teaching industrial education and coaches at Patrick Henry High School. He married Dawn Colleen Rohrs, daughter of Vernon and Janice Genter Rohrs, on June 11, 1972. Dawn taught first grade for three years. Their daughter, Rachel Colleen, was born on August 7, 1976. They live in Liberty Township.

William Perry was born March 19, 1954 and married Sharon Beth Mohler, daughter of Merrill and Bonnie Bowers Mohler, on June 14, 1975. William teaches industrial education at Evergreen High School. His wife, Sharon, is a beautician and works for her mother at Bonnie's Beauty Shoppe, Liberty Center. They live near Liberty Center.

John, Tenny, and Bill are members of the Delta Wildwood Bowmen. They have taken several white tail bucks with their bows in Fulton and Henry Counties.

Shelly Colleen was born August 27, 1966. She is a student at Liberty Center Local School.

The Sharpe family are all members of the Liberty Chapel United Methodist Church.