Herman Basselman

Herman Basselman is a life long resident of Bartlow Township in Henry County. He owns and farmed an eighty acre parcel of land located in Section 11 of Bartlow Township. This being the same farm bought by his parents, Fred Basselmann and Sophia (Seeman) Basselmann in April of 1896. In addition to the farm in Bartlow Township, two additional parcels of land were purchased by him during his farming career. Both being located in Section 7 of Jackson Township, Wood County. Mr. Basselman is now retired, but still takes an active interest in the various farming operations.

Mr. Basselman was married to Miss Augusta Dickmander of near Westhope in Richfield Township on February 26, 1933. She was the daughter of Frank Dickmander and Dorthea (Yungman) Dickmander. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Basselman: Alfred, born February 16, 1936; and Rudolph, born July 10, 1941. Mr. Basselman has been a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Deshler all his life and has held several offices on its council.

Alfred Basselman married Miss Marilyn Meyer of Hamler, Ohio, on July 29, 1956. They are the parents of three daughters: Cynthia, born December 23, 1957; Debra, born April 23, 1959; and Patricia, born February 22, 1962.

Rudolph Basselman graduated from Deshler High School with the Class of 1959. He continued his education at the University of Toledo for one year and then in March of 1963 graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, Indiana. After holding engineering positions with two industrial firms, he decided that the field of private practice appeared interesting and challenging. In February of 1969, Mr. Basselman was granted his registration as a Professional Engineer by the State of Ohio. In May of 1971 a private engineering consulting business was established in Ridgeville Corners. The office was located in the old bank building (now under plans for reconstruction by the Farmers State Bank of McClure). Effective January 1, 1972, a partnership agreement was entered into between Mr. Basselman and Mr. Wayne Aschemeier of Gerald in Freedom Township who is a land surveyor registered by the State of Ohio. The partnership is presently operating under the name of Basselman and Aschemeier, Engineering and Surveying. Mr. Basselman is active in the Society of Professional Engineers and has held the office of president of the Maumee Valley Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers and trustee to the Ohio Society.

On July 22, 1962, Rudolph married Miss Patricia Gerken, the daughter of Richard W. Gerken and Marie (Rohrs) Gerken of near Gerald in Freedom Township. Mrs. Basselman was born on June 10, 1941. She graduated from Ridgeville High School with 35 classmates in the Class of 1959. Immediately after graduation she was employed by the Behrmann Construction Company of Ridgeville Corners as a bookkeeper. She also served as organist for St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napoleon Township for several years and_ presently is a member of the senior choir. Mr. and Mrs. Basselman met while serving as Luther League officers on the Federation level and both were actively involved in this organization during their youth.

The Basselmans first lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in March of 1963 moved to a rental home on the Carl Harms' farm, one and one-half miles west of Malinta in Monroe Township. After a search of several years, a 15 acre site of land in the northeast quarter of Section 36, Ridgeville Township, became available for purchase. The site appeared very suitable for a home site and offered the opportunity to enjoy a small scale farming business. The site was purchased on January 2, 1969, from Elmer Schuette and plans were immediately started for a new home. On April 4, 1969, work started on the construction of a 36 by 28 feet four bedroom home with a two car attached garage. The Basselmans moved into their new home on August 31, 1969, just in time for their oldest son, Randall, to begin kindergarten classes in the Ridgeville Building of the Archbold Area School District. In 1971 a 25 by 40 feet storage building was constructed to house farm equipment, pets of the children and perhaps some cattle in the future.

The marriage of Rudolph and Patricia Basselman has been blessed by the birth of four children: Randall R., born November 29, 1963; Sandra J., born August 23, 1965; Dennis A., born March 12, 1969; and David S., born July 6, 1971. The Basselman family are active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napoleon Township, in which he is presently serving as vice-president of the congregation and director of the senior choir.

Submitted by Rudolph Basselman