Donald J. Like

A clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in obtaining a large measure of success. In tracing the career of one who has attained tangible results as the consequence of his own efforts, there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, that there is found an incentive to inspiration and, at the same time, there is inward a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have made Donald J. Like one of the prominent and successful business men of New Bavaria, Ohio, and farmer also. Hiscareer has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination, and honorable, straight-forward business relations. He gives much of his time to community affairs. He served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He since has become an active life member of the V.F.W. Post #8847 of New Bavaria, Ohio. He has held the office of Quartermaster of the V.F.W. for eleven years, and now the Commander of the Post. Donald has served 5 years as a member of the Henry County Fair Board.

Donald J. Like was born in the home where he now resides on July 17, 1932, in New Bavaria, Ohio, and is the son of Mr. Herman and Marie C. Like. He had one brother, Leopold who was born in the same home on April 12, 1930. Leopold graduated from Holgate High School, Dayton University, and Ohio State University with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. Leopold now is a successful surgeon in Lima, Ohio. He married Sue (Recker) Like in 1956. They have four daughters: Kimberly age 17, Lisa 16, Anne 11, and Sarah 6, who reside in Lima, Ohio.

Donald J. Like married Ruth (Seimet) Like the adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Seimet. Mr. and Mrs. Like have lived in New Bavaria, since their marriage, and have been in the plumbing business and farming since 1956. They are the parents of seven children: Christine, born Dec. 29, 1956; Gerald, Nov. 17, 1957; Lawrence, Jan. 4, 1959; Terrence, Oct. 19, 1961; Doreen, March 14, 1965; Kathleen, April 12, 1967; and Donald Jr., Aug. 3, 1969; Christine was the first Like girl born in the William Like family in fifty-six years.

Herman L. Like, the father of Donald J. Like, was born Jan. 22, 1904, in Henry County, Ohio. Mr. Like spent his whole life in Henry County. He was a man of integrity and honor, highly esteemed by those who knew him, and a man whose word was as good as his bond. He was a lifelong farmer, as well as a businessman engaged in plumbing. He became well known in the county through this work, and also for some 18 years he served on the Henry County Fair Board. He died June 2, 1965, at his home.

William Like, the father of Herman L. Like, was born in 1869, in Henry County, to John and Magdelina (Singer) Like. William married Elizabeth (Beck) Like. Mrs. Like was also born in Henry County, to Jacob and Barbara (Etchen) Beck. She was one of thirteen children. She taught school in a one room school in Henry County for a number of years. William and Elizabeth were farmers all of their lives. They had 6 children: Herman, who married Mary C. (Leopold) Like, and had two children Leopold, and Donald; Mary J. who died in 1900 at the age of two years; William Albertus, born Dec. 1905, and died Feb. 1906 of whooping cough; Irene, who married John A. Klear, had four children, Raymond, Leroy, Joan (Klear) Rettig, and John J. Klear; Wilferd, married Corleen (Schwab) Like and had four children, Ronald, William, Robert, and Thomas; Joseph a twin to Wilferd married Leona Kuhlman Mangas Like and they have no children. William and Elizabeth also raised Ligouri Crumrine, a nephew.

The Like family has been represented in this county since 1829. That year the progenitor of John Like, father of William Like, came to America, joining a large colony of Germans who settled in the New Bavaria area about that time. John Like married Magdelina (Singer) Like. They were the parents of eight children: William; John, had two children Laura, and Laverna; Jacob, married Lena (Rothman) and had three children, Clarence, Mabel (Like) Sager, and Ralph Like; Charles married Catherine (Zenz) and they had five children, Laura (Like) Giesige, Arthur, Cletus, Bert, and Raymond; Mary (Like) Young, had seven children, Ida Elchinger, Rena Belfy, Otmar Young, Dadie Thome, Annie, Rona, and Ed Young; Annie (Like) Reber had nine children, Agnes Giesige, Bertha Giesige, Joe Reber, Steve Reber, Fred Reber, Vince Reber, Bill Reber, Alfred Reber, and Len Reber; Sarah (Like) Crumrine Vogt, had three children, Ligouri Crumrine, Robert Vogt, and Roy Vogt; Frances (Like) Rehrig, had two children, Bertha Thomas, and Dr. C. J. Cassidy.

Submitted by the Family