Ferdinand Wachtman

Father was born on October 29, 1889, to William and Anna Wachtman. His father William was born in Henry County. His mother Anna came to this country from Viselhoevede, Germany, in the fall of 1873 shortly after her confirmation in the Lutheran faith, and with her parents, settled in Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio.

My father's parents' home was in Napoleon Township at the junction of the Bryan Pike (U.S. Route 6) and County Road 17 in a small settlement of homes called Dogtown. Here father grew up and helped his parents work the farm. When he became of age, he also hired out to other farmers, and it was at this time that he learned the carpenter trade.

When father was in his late teens, he developed a respiratory ailment and subsequently moved to Galveston, Texas. He remained there for approximately two years, and with his health restored, he returned to Henry County.

On April 27, 1916, he was united in marriage to Mary Otte, daughter of William and Marie Otte, of nearby Defiance County.

William and Marie Otte lived on a farm located on the Defiance-Henry County line, Township Road 19. They were both born in this country. Mother's birthdate was on October 8, 1891.

Shortly after their marriage, father and mother made their home on a farm in Napoleon Township on County Road 18. Their home was a frame structure built in 1898. There was situated on the homestead the log cabin that had been the home of my mother's grandparents, and her father was born in the cabin.

The log cabin was a two-story structure and on the front porch was the sleigh that my parents had used for winter transportation when they were first married. We and some of the neighbor children played many hours in this cabin. It was always a double treat in that the shortest route to the cabin was through the animal pens, and we'd "sneak" through, one by one, while the others stood guard.

William and Marie (Otte) Wachtman on their 26th wedding anniversary.

Our parents eventually bought this farm. It remained their home together for 38 years. (Note the picture: it was taken on April 27, 1942, on their 26th wedding anniversary). All of their six children were born here: William on March 6, 1917; Laura on January 7, 1921; Marie on November 27, 1925; Martha on July 8, 1928; Hilda on March 9, 1930; and Donald on August 24, 1934.

We were all raised on the farm, and all except Donald, attended a one- room school, for all or part of our education. The school was located on the corner of the Bales Road and County Road 18, and was called the Freytag Schoolhouse. This school was permanently closed around the year 1939, and we then attended the Napoleon City Schools. Whereas, in the country school all the children were of German descent and spoke the language, now we had to "speak English." How patient our country school teacher must have been as we struggled to get acquainted with and learn this new language. This country school has recently been dismantled and removed.

Don continued his education after high school with four years at Capital University in Columbus, and one year graduate study at Ohio State University.

Our family was a member of rural St. Paul's Lutheran Church. All of us children attended catechism classes there and were confirmed in the Christian faith.

William served our country during the Second World War from 1942 to 1945 in General Patton's army.

Don was in the service from 1955 to 1957 and served as an Honor Guard at Ft. Myers, Virginia.

William is married to Mildred Bostelman of Napoleon Township and they have four children: William, Jr., Esther, Ruth, and Barbara. Laura is married to Lawrence Bahler of Freedom Township, and they have two children, Judy and Ronald. Marie is married to Herbert Panning of Bartlow Township and they have three children, Lou Ann, Garry, and Annette. I was married from 1958 to 1966 and have no children. Hilda is married to Jack Green of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and they have four children, Beth, John, Ellen, and Peter. Don is married to Carolyn Herath of Silver Spring, Maryland, and they have three children, Stephen, Timothy, and Andrew.

Our parents were engaged in farming, but father also did a lot of carpenter work. He designed and built cabinets, remodeled kitchens, and built garages. His specialty, and what he enjoyed the most, was constructing the square-timber barns. "Raising" a barn was an exciting adventure. It was an occasion for neighbors getting together for work, fun, and fellowship. The final ceremony of the day would always be making a huge wreath out of greenery, and then nailing it to the highest peak on the side of the new barn.

Father had several threshing machines and did custom work for approximately twenty-four neighbors. The first source of power for these machines was the steam engine, (note picture taken on January 22, 1924), later replaced by a Rumley Oil Pull tractor.

After the threshing was finished in the fall, we would have a party at our house for the neighbors, and occasionally, weather permitting, father would string lights around the front yard and we'd have the party outside. Our neighbors were good people, and we always enjoyed having them over, and this party certainly was a good way to end a season of working together.

The threshing machines were soon to become obsolete as the combine was invented. Now, along with threshing, father continued his custom work with a combine. Eventually, all the work was done with the combine, and it seemed to us to be the end of a beautiful era. Now there were no more "threshing days" when whole families would gather to work together. The men would work outside, and the women would plan and cook the big meals. The big dinners would be at noon, and for the evening meals "hot dogs" were served. The men, of course, got to eat first, and if there were any left, the children would get a "hot dog." This was a big treat for us, because since we always had our own meat, this was one of the few times we would get store-bought meat. It was also a time when father would buy "pop" for the children. Those were good times.

Uncaptioned, steam tractor.

Uncaptioned, working in field.

Uncaptioned, working at an outdoor sawmill.

In late fall it was time to set up schedules for another type of clientele. Along with three partners, father owned and operated a portable saw mill. Although portable, the mill was not frequently moved as it was quite an undertaking to do so. They would set it up in or near a woods, and it would remain there for the entire winter and people would bring their timbers to the mill for cutting.

At dawn on May 29, 1947, a tornado touched down on our farm. It damaged most of the farm buildings and twisted off the windmill tower. It took the top floor off of the log cabin and completely destroyed the barn. The sleigh on the log cabin porch was destroyed, and also other antique articles that were in the cabin. The self-feeding threshing machine that father had kept as a keepsake, was all but demolished when the huge timbers in the barn fell directly on top of it.

The barn was replaced two years later and it was one of the last square- timber barns to be built in this area.

Father served as township trustee, and was in his third term at the time of his death on June 19, 1954.

Mother remained in her home in the country until 1962 when she chose to move to Napoleon. William and his family moved to the home place.

Mother is still quite active. She makes a small garden every spring, and spends many hours piecing quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

Donald and his family live outside of Columbus near Pickerington. The rest of us live in Henry County.

Submitted by Mrs. Martha Young