Documents:
1850 Census, Ottawa, Putnam, OH
1860 Census, Ottawa, Putnam, OH
1900 Census, Glandorf, Putnam, OH
Record of marriage to Henry Reckfelder, St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Interment Record, St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH

Burial monument, St John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Glandorf, OH

 
William with his wife Clara Rampe-Smith.

Documents:
Birth Record, St Michaels Catholic Church, Kalida, OH
1940 Census, Ridgefield Twp, Huron, OH
Death Record, St Michaels Catholic Church, Kalida, OH

Burial monument, Saint Josephs Cemetery, Monroeville, OH

Biography (from "A History of Putnam County, Ohio: It's People, Industries and Institutions" by George D. Kinder):
WILLIAM SMITH.
Elsewhere in this volume of biography of the important citizens of Putnam county, there is presented at some length the genealogy of the Smith family, so long and so' well known in the Kalida neighborhood in Union township, this county, the fourth generation of which in this section of the state is now doing well its part in the development of the best interests of that excellent community, following nobly the admirable example of social and civic worth set by the forbears of that family in this county. So admirable has been the spirit uniformly displayed by the members of this family in its attitude toward the communal interests, that it is a pleasure to present here another sketch relating to one of the present-day active members of the family, and to this end the biogra:pher asks the reader's attention to the following brief review of the life of the gentleman whose name appears above.
William Smith, one of the sons of L. Jacob and Florentine (Verhoff) Smith, was born on the paternal homestead near Kalida, in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, October 28, 1879, ^I'^d has lived all his life in that neighborhood, occupying today the position of one of the leading men in that community, as were his father and his grand fa,ther before him. Though the local readers of this biography need no introduction to the Smith family in Union township, it may be said, in passing here, that further details of the genealogy of William Smith may be found in the sketch pertaining to bis elder brother, Frank Smith, presented elsewhere in this volume, which traces the family descent from the first of that line to locate in this section. The genealogy of the Verhoff family, the family of Mr. Smith's mother, may be found in the sketch relating to Theodore Verhoff, of Greensburg township, her brother, elsewhere in this volume.
William Smith was reared on the paternal farm in Union township, the same on which his brother, Frank, now resides, and received his early educa- tion in the schools of that neighborhood, the period of his young manhood being spent on the home farm. For six years previous to his marriage, he worked on the farms of others in the neighborhood, the labors of the home farm not requiring the services of all the stalwart sons of the proprietor, but after his marriage, in 1909, he moved to the farm of eighty acres on which he now lives in Union township, he having previously bought this place in anticipation of marriage and the establishment of a new home. He moved the house in which he now lives to its present location, it having stood a short distance to the north at the time he bought the place. In many ways he has improved this place and has brought it up to a high standard of cultivation, making it a productive and attractive farm. Mr. Smith is an intelligent and industrious young farmer and is contemplating numerous other improve- ments to his already well-ordered place In addition to his own farm of eighty acres, Mr. Smith works a tract of twenty-three acres adjoining, which belongs to his father, the venerable L. Jacob Smith, who is living a life of pleasant retirement in Kalida, where he established a comfortable home some years ago upon coming to the decision to retire and enjoy the fruits of a long life of honorable activity.
On October 20, 1909, William Smith was united in marriage to Clara Rampe, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Doepker) Rampe, members of one of the olde.st and best-known families in Putnam county, frequent refer- 824 PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO. ence to which family is made in this volume, both of whom were born in the Glandorf neighborhood, where Mr. Smith's bride grew to womanhood. Mr. and Mrs. Rampe some years ago retired from the farm on which they had so long resided and are now living in retirement in the town of Kalida, this county, where they have the esteem of all who know them. They are the parents of five children, three sons and three daughters, the others being Frank, Hubert, Anna, Ella and Clark.
To William and Clara (Rampe) Smith four children have been born, as follow: Louise, August 30, 1910; Rudolph, April 14, 1912; Edwin, December 15, 1913, and Stephen, March 10, 1915, a most interesting little family which makes the Smith home a continuous scene of merriment and joy.
William Smith and wife are members of the St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida, in the various beneficences of which they are earnestly in- terested, and Mr. Smith is a member of the St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, m the affairs of which he takes a warm interest, being one of the most gen- erous contributors to the general work of the parish. The Smith famili^ in that section of the county, are all interested in the good works of the com- munity in which they live. ' With an honorable ancestry back of them it is not unnatural that they should possess a pardonable degree of family pride and It is gratifying to note that this commendable regard for family and a proper desire to perpetuate the family records has prompted five of the sons of L. Jacob Smith to furnish data to the present biographer upon which to construct biographical sketches for this valuable history of the prominent citizens of Putnam county, an instance of family consideration which their descendants will appreciate greatly in the years to come and for which generations yet unborn will thank them.

 
L to R: William Smith,Frank Smith, Jacob Smith,
Harry Smith, Minnie Smith, Catherine Verhoff-Smith,
Herbert Smith, Anthony Smith.

Actual last name: Schmidt

 

 
Mary Louise (left) with her sisters Gertrude and Dorothy.

Documents:
Marriage Record, State of Ohio
1940 Census, Ridgefield Twp, Huron, OH

Burial headstone, Saint Joseph Cemetery, Monroeville, Huron OH

Birth Record, Putnam County, OH
1940 Census, Milan Twp, Erie, OH
Death Record, St Pauls Catholic Church, Norwalk, OH

Burial Monument, St Josephs Catholic Cemetery, Monroeville, OH

Documents:
Birth Record, St Michaels Catholic Church, Kalida, OH
1940 Census, Ridgefield Twp, Huron, OH

Resided in Norwalk, Huron, OH in 1930.

Documents:
1940 Census, Ridgefield Twp, Huron, OH

Resided in Norwalk, Putnam, OH in 1930.
Resided in Ridgefield Twp, Huron, OH in 1940.

Burial Monument, St Josephs Catholic Cemetery, Monroeville, OH

Documents:
Marriage Record, State of Ohio
Birth Record, Pauline County, OH
Death Record, St Gerards Catholic Church, Lima, OH

Burial headstone, Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery, Lima, OH

Resided at 151 N Mumaugh Rd, Lima, OH in 1976.

Documents:
Marriage Record, State of Ohio
Death Record, St Gerards Catholic Church, LIma, OH
1900 US Census, Lima, Allen, OH
Draft Registration Card, World War I
Draft Registration Card, World War II

Burial headstone, Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery, Lima, OH

Resided at 702 W Robb Ave, Lima, OH in 1979.

Resided at 1311 8th St, Anacortes, WA 98221.

Documents:
Record of Marriage to Anna Carolina Doepker, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Record of Marriage to Sophia Mormon, State of Ohio
Record of Marriage to Sophia Morman, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Record of Marriage to Mary Nartker, Putnam County, OH
Record of Marriage to Mary Nartker, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Death Record, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH

Burial headstone, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Glandorf, OH
Burial monument, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Glandorf, OH

Documents:
Birth Record, St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
1920 US Census, Jennings Twp, Putnam, OH
Death Record, St Josephs Catholic Church, Fort Jennings, OH
Death Record, State of Ohio

Burial Monument, St Josephs Catholic Cemetery, Fort Jennings, OH

Documents:
Baptismal Record, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Birth Record, Putnam County, OH
1900 US Census, Ottawa, Putnam, OH
1940 US Census, Jennings Twp, Putnam, OH
Death Record, State of Ohio

Obituary:
Final Rites Held For Mrs. A. Ricker
FORT JENNINGS, Dec. 14 - Last rites for Mrs. Adelia Ricker, 63, wife of Andrew Ricker, residing two and one half miles east of Fort Jennings; were held in St. Joseph's church here Saturday morning. Interment was in the church cemetery. Mrs, Ricker had been in failing health for ten years.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Wortman, she was born in Glandorf, May 24, 1881. She was married to Mr. Ricker at Glandorf, May 8. 1901. Her entire life was spent in the Fort Jennings community, She was a member of St. Joseph's Church and of the Altar society of the church.
Besides her husband, she Is survived by two sons and four daughters, Raymond and Oliver Ricker, at home: Mrs. Alex Fortman, Kalida: Mrs. Joseph H. Horstman, of Cloverdale; Mrs. Francis Mandery, of near Fort Jennings, and Mrs. Alvin Selhorst, of Leipsic. There are seven grandehildren.
She is survived also by a brother and sister, Joseph Wortman and Mrs. Andrew Schroeder, both of Leipsic. Three sisters, Mrs, Ben Tebeck, Fort Jennings: Mrs. Charles Schroeder, Glandorf, and Mrs. William Lemper, of Michigan. are deceased.
- REPUBLICAN-COURIER, FINDLAY DECEMBER 15, 1943

Documents:
Baptismal Record, St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH

Documents:
Death Record, State of Ohio
1920 US Census, Jennings Twp, Putnam, OH

Burial monument, St Josephs Catholic Cemetery, Ft Jennings, OH

Documents:
Baptismal Record, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Record of Marriage to Charles Schroeder, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Record of Marriage to Charles Schroeder, State of Ohio
Record of Marriage to Bernard Aelker, State of Ohio
1900 US Census, Greensburg Twp, Putnam, OH
1910 Census, Greensburg, Putnam, OH
1930 Census, Greensburg Twp, Putnam, OH
Death Record, State of Ohio

Burial headstone, St John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Glandorf, OH

Resided in Greensburg Township, Putnam, OH from 1900-1930.

Documents:
Baptismal Record, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Marriage Record, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, OH
Birth Record, Putnam County, OH
1940 Census, Leipsic, Putnam, OH
Death Record, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Leipsic, OH

Burial headstone, St Marys Catholic Cemetery, Leipsic, OH

Resided in Van Buren, Putnam, OH in 1910.
Resided in Leipsic, Putnam, OH in 1940.

Obituary:
Joseph Wortman Succumbs Al 93
Services Wednesday At Leipsic Church
Leipsic. Joseph Wortman, 93, a retired tailor of Leipsic, died al 2:50 a.m. Monday in the home of a daughter in Toledo. lie had been in failing health several years.
Born May 14, 1869 in Glandorf, he Was the son of August and Caroline (Doepker) Wortman. He married Anna Guelker and she is deceased.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs Eugene Snyder. Toledo; eight grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Wortnian was a member St. Mary's Catholic Church, Knights of Columhus, Catholic Knights of Ohio and the Holy Name Society.
Services are at 10 a.m Wednesday in the church, the Rev. Mark Vogel officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Peoples Funeral Home where the rosary will be recited at 8:30 pm Tuesday by the knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society.
-Findlay Republican-Courier, August 21, 1962